Bancroft  Ubraiy 

II.-BASKET-WORK  OF  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. 

•-  (^o^4 


"  Barbara  de  pictis  veni  bascauda  Britannia, 
Sed  me  jam  mavult  dicere  Roma  suuiii." 

— MARTIAL,  xiv,  99. 

The  study  of  the  minutest  technique  in  the  distribution  of  aboriginal 
arts  is  very  necessary  in  making  up  our  opinions  on  questions  of  An 
thropology.  The  archaeologist  is  frequently  caused  to  halt  in  the  re 
construction  of  ancient  society  by  his  ignorance  of  the  arts  of  the  sav 
ages  around  him.  This  is  especially  true  of  an  art  which  had  its  cul 
mination  in  savagery  or  barbarism,  and  which  began  to  decline  at  the 
touch  of  civilization,  or  at  least  to  give  place  to  higher  types  of  the  same 
art.  For  the  discussions  of  problems  that  have  arisen  in  the  past  the 
data  then  in  hand  have  been  sufficient ;  but  as  the  investigations  of 
social  progress  become  more  intricate  the  demands  for  greater  detail  in 
the  observation  of  anthropological  phenomena  around  us  is  imperative. 

I  have  lately  had  occasion  to  examine  all  the  baskets  in  the  National 
Museum,  Und  the  results  of  this  research  may  not  be  uninteresting  as 
a  contribution  to  exact  technology  in  an  art  which  may  be  called  par 
excellence  a  savage  art. 

In  a  basket  there  are  several  characteristics  to  be  observed,  which 
will  enable  us  to  make  a  classification  of  the  objects  themselves  and  to 
refer  them  to  their  several  tribal  manufacturers.  These  characteristics 
are  the  material,  the  frame-work,  the  methods  of  weaving,  the  coiling  or 
sewing^  the  decoration,  their  use,  &c. 

The  tool  almost  universally  used  in  their  manufacture  is  a  bone  awl 
or  pricker  and  the  makers  are  the  women.  Of  the  manipulation  of  the 
material  previously  to  the  weaving  little  is  known. 

In  the  drawings  accompanying  this  paper  the  actual  size  of  the  speci 
mens  is  indicated  by  a  series  of  inch  marks  in  the  margin.  The  inches 
on  the  standard  line  are  shown  by  spaces  between  dots.  In  order  to 
indicate  exactly  the  manner  of  weaving,  a  square,  usually  an  inch  in 
dimension,  is  taken  from  a  portion  of  the  surface  wherein  all  the  meth 
ods  of  manipulation  occur.  This  square  inch  is  enlarged  sufficiently  to 
make  the  structure  comprehensible.  This  plan  enables  us  to  show  form 
and  ornamentation  in  the  whole  figure  as  well  as  the  method  of  treat 
ment  in  the  enlarged  inch. 


292  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,    1884. 

ALEUTIAN  ISLANDS. 

Mr.  William  H.  Ball  has  contributed  to  the  National  Museum  a  large 
number  of  Aleut  grass  wallets,  conoidal  in  form  when  filled  (Fig.  1).  The 
warp  is  of  coarse  straws,  radiating  from  the  center  of  the  bottom.  The 
covering  or  woof  is  made  by  plaiting  or  twisting  two  straws  in  a  coil  or 
twine,  crossing  them  between  each  pair  of  warp  straws.  It  is  as  if  a 
twine  of  two  strands  had  a  straw  or  osier  passed  down  through  every 
half  turn  (Fig.  2).  This  plait  or  twine  may  be  driven  close  home  so  as 
to  be  absolutely  water-tight,  or  the  weaver  may  leave  spaces  from  one 
twine  to  the  next  wide  enough  to  make  a  net.  A  very  pretty  effect  is 
produced  by  these  Aleutian  basket-weavers  by  splitting  the  wa.rp 
straws  and  twining  woof  straws  around  two  of  the  half  straws,  joining 
1  by  2,  3  by  4,  5  by  6,  at  one  round,  and  the  next  twine  inclosing  0  by 
1,  2  by  3,  4  by  5,  and  so  on.  This  produces  a  series  of  lozenge  open 
ings  (Fig.  2).  The  split  warp  strands  are  often  crossed  to  form  X- 
shaped  openings,  or  carried  straight  so  as  to  produce  parallelograms. 
I  have  observed  the  same  effect  in  Peruvian  mummy  cloth,  but  a  greater 
variety  of  network  is  there  produced  by  alternating  the  rectangular  and 
lozenge  meshes  in  bands  varying  in  width. 

In  the  u  Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Knowledge,"  No.  318,  plate  7, 
Mr.  Dall  figures  and  describes  the  matting  of  the  Aleutian  Islanders 
found  in  the  caves  in  the  Catherina  Archipelago. 

The  method  of  manipulation  in  the  matting  is  the  same  as  that  just 
described  for  the  basketry  of  the  Aleuts,  and  the  delicacy  of  workman 
ship  is  most  admirable. .  This  method  of  weaving  by  means  of  twining 
two  woof  strands  around  a  series  of  warp  strands  occurs  in  many  places, 
and  will  hereafter  in  this  paper  receive  the  name  of  "  twined  basketry." 

In  a  covered  basket  made  of  split  bamboo  from  the  Malabar  coast  the 
fastening  off  at  the  top  of  the  basket  and  the  weaving  of  the  cover  have 
a  three- stranded  twine.  At  every  third  of  a  turn  the  splint  that  is  in 
ward  is  hooked  or  passed  behind  the  warp  splint  at  that  point.  This 
produces  a  very  smooth  effect  on  the  inside  and  a  rough  surface  without. 

The  mats  of  the  Aleuts  are  made  of  the  fiber  of  the  Elymus*  treated 
as  hemp.  The  ornamentation  on  the  outside  of  the  mats  and  baskets 
is  formed  by  embroidering  on  the  surface  with  strips  of  the  straw  in 
stead  of  the  macerated  fiber  which  forms  the  body  of  the  fabric.  The 
embroidery  stitches  in  these,  as  in  most  savage  basketry,  does  not  always 
pass  through  the  fabric,  but  are  more  frequently  .whipped  on,  the  stitches 
passing  always  between  the  two  woof  strands,  as  in  aresene  embroidery, 
showing  only  on  the  outside.  Mr.  Dall  justly  praises  the  marvelous 
nicety  of  this  Aleutian  grass-weaving,  both  in  mats  and  basketry. 

There  is  no  Chinese  or  Japanese  basket  in  the  National  Museum  show 
ing  this  plaited  weft.  The  grass  of  these  Aleutian  wallets  is  exceed- 

*  Elymus  mollis,  Sitka,  Norton  Sound,  Kotzebue  Sound  ;  E.  arenariw,  Norton  Sound, 
to  Point  Barrow  ;  E.  Sibiri&us,  Sitka.  (See  Rothrock,  Smithsonian  Report,  1867.) 


ABORIGINAL    BASKET-WORK.  293 

ingly  fine,  the  plaiting  done  with  exquisite  care,  the  stitches  being  often 
as  fine  as  20  to  the  inch,  and  frequently  bits  of  colored  worsted  are  em 
broidered  around  the  upper  portion,  giving  a  pleasing  effect.  The  bor 
ders  are  braided  in  open  work  from  the  ends  left  in  the  weaving,  as 
follows  (Fig.  1): 

At  some  point  on  the  border,  when  the  solid  part  of  the  wallet  is 
finished,  the  weaver  bends  two  warp  strands  in  opposite  directions  and 
gives  each  a  twist  with  its  next  neighbor.  These  two  are  braided  with 
the  next  warp  thread;  these  three  with  the  next.  Now,  start  at  a 
proper  distance  from  the  first  point  of  departure  and  braid  both  ways, 
as  before.  These  braids  will  meet  and  form  a  set  of  scallops  around 
the  edge,  fastened  at  the  ends  and  loose  in  the  middle.  Also,  at  the 
apex  of  each  scallop  will  be  a  lot  of  warp  straws,  braided  indeed  at  the 
base  but  loose  for  any  required  length.  The  weaver  commences  with 
any  set  of  these  to  make  a  four-ply  braid,  catching  up  the  next  set  and 
braiding  them  in  as  she  went  along,  and  fastening  off  a  set  as  each  new 
set  is  taken  up.  The  upper  border  is  thus  a  continuous  braid,  con 
nected  at  regular  intervals  with  the  apices  of  the  braided  scallops. 
When  the  braider  reaches  her  starting  point  she  catches  one  braid  into 
another,  in  a  rather  clumsy  manner,  and  continues  to  braid  a  long  four- 
ply  string,  which,  carried  in  and  out  the  scallops,  forms  a  drawing- 
string. 

ALASKAN  ESKIMO. — Two  types  of  baskets  are  found  in  close  prox 
imity  in  the  neighborhood  of  Norton  Sound — the  twined  and  the  coiled. 
In  the  former  (Fig.  3)  the  treatment  is  precisely  the  same  as  in  those 
of  Aleutian  Islands,  but  the  Eskimo  wallet  is  of  coarser  material  and 
the  plaiting  is  a  little  more  rudely  done. 

The  basketry  of  this  type,  however,  is  very  strong,  and  useful  for 
holding  food,  weapons,  implements  of  all  kinds,  and  various  other  arti 
cles.  When  not  in  use,  the  wallets  can  be  folded  up  into  a  small  space 
like  a  grocer's  paper  bag  (Fig.  3).  In  the  bottoms  of  the  wallets  of  this 
class  the  weft  is  very  open,  leaving  spaces  at  least  one-half  inch  wide 
uncovered.  The  borders  are  produced  by  braiding  four  strands  of  sea 
grass  into  the  extremities  of  the  warp  strands. 

Ornamentation  is  produced  by  darning  or  whipping  one  or  more  rows 
of  colored  ^rass  after  the  body  is  formed — not  necessarily  after  the 
whole  basket  is  completed,  for  each  row  of  whipping  may  be  put  on 
just  after  the  row  of  coil  on  which  it  is  based  (Fig.  4).  Another  plan 
of  attaching  the  ornamentation  is  very  ingenious  but  not  uncommon. 
Two  strands  of  colored  straw  or  grass  are  twined  just  as  in  the  body  of 
the  basket,  and  at  every  half  turn  one  of  the  strands  is  hooked  under  a 
stitch  on  the  fyody  of  the  basket  by  a  kind  of  aresene  work.  This  or 
nament  has  a  bold  relief  effect  on  the  outside  and  is  not  seen  at  all  on 
the  inside. 

The  coiled  variety  of  the  Eskimo  basketry,  mentioned  above  (Fig.  5), 
consists  of  a  uniform  bunch  of  grass  sewed  in  a  continuous  coil  by  a 
whip  stitch  over  the  bunch  of  grass  and  through  just  a  few  bits  of  grass 


294  EEPOET    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,    1884. 

in  the  coil  just  beneath,  the  stitch  looping  under  a  stitch  of  the  lower 
coil.  When  this  work  is  carefully  done,  as  among  the  Indians  of  New 
Mexico,  Arizona,  and  California,  and  in  some  exquisite  examples  in 
bamboo  from  Siam  and  in  palm -leaf  from  Nubia,  the  most  beautiful  re 
sults  are  reached;  but  the  Eskimo  basket-maker  does  not  prepare  her 
coils  evenly,  sews  carelessly,  passing  the  threads  sometimes  through 
the  stitches  just  below  and  sometimes  between  them,  and  does  not  work 
her  stitches  home  (Fig.  6).  Most  of  these  baskets  in  the  collection  of 
E.  W.  Nelson  have  a  round  bit  of  leather  in  the  bottom  to  start  upon 
(Fig.  5,  6).  The  shape  is  either  that  of  the  uncovered  band-box  or  of 
the  ginger-jar.  Especial  attention  should  be  paid  to  this  form  of  stitch 
ing,  as  it  occurs  again  in  widely-distant  regions  in  a  great  variety  of 
material  and  with  modifications  producing  striking  effects. 

The  association  of  this  coiled  form  of  basket-making  with  the  marks 
on  the  most  primitive  types  of  pottery-making  has  been  frequently 
noticed  by  archaeologists.  It  is  also  well  known  that  the  modern  sav 
ages  of  our  Southwest  build  up  their  pottery  in  this  manner,  either  allow 
ing  the  coils  to  remain  or  carefully  obliterating  them  by  rubbing,  first 
with  a  wet  paddle  of  wood,  and  afterwards,  when  the  vessel  is  dry,  with 
a  very  fine-grained  stone. 

The  Eskimo  women  employ  in  basket-making  a  needle  made  of  a  bird 
bone  ground  to  a  point  on  a  stone  (Fig.  100).  Fine  tufts  of  reindeer  hair, 
taken  from  between  the  hoofs,  are  extensively  used  in  ornamentation, 
especially  in  the  Aleutian  area. 

TINN£  INDIANS. 

A  few  specimens  of  basketry  from  the  vast  Athapascan  area  contig 
uous  to  the  Eskimo  belong  to  the  coiled  type  (Fig.  7).  Instead  of  a 
bunch  of  grass,  however,  a  rod  of  willow  or  spruce  root  is  carried 
around  in  a  coil  and  whipped  on  with  a  continuous  splint  of  similar 
material  (Fig.  8).  The  stitches  of  the  coil  in  process  of  formation, 
passing  regularly  between  those  just  below  and  locking  into  them, 
alternate  with  them  and  give  a  somewhat  twilled  effect  to  the  surface* 
(Fig.  8).  If  now  a  strip  of  bast  or  grass  be  laid  on  the  top  of  the  osier 
or  spruce  root  coil  and  carried  around  with  it,  and  the  sewing  pass  al 
ways  over  these  two  and  down  between  the  bast  and  the  osier  of  the 
coil  below,  a  much  closer  ribbed  effect  will  be  produced.  Several 
specimens  of  this  kind  of  coiled  basketry,  in  which  a  strip  of  tough 
material  is  laid  on  top  of  the  coiled  osier,  were  collected  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Mackenzie  River  by  McFarlane  and  Eoss,  and  Mr.  Murdoch  has 
shown  me  a  basket  similarly  wrought,  from  Point  Barrow,  which  he 
thinks  many  have  been  obtained  by  barter  from  the  Tiiine*  Indians  in 
the  vicinity.  The  ornamentation  on  one  specimen  of  this  type  is  very 

*  The  working  of  this  stitch  is  described  and  figured  by  Paul  Schumacher  in  XII 
Report  of  Peabody  Museum,  p.  524 :  the  coils  are  not,  however,  interlocked  in  all  cases; 
that  is,  if  the  foundation  rods  were  pulled  out  the  stitches  would  separate  and  the 
whole  structure  come  apart  in  some  cases. 


ABORIGINAL    BASKET-WORK.  295 

curious  and  elaborate  (Fig.  9).  The  basket-maker  had  a  number  of 
little  loops  of  bark  and  quill  of  different  color  prepared,  and  every  time 
a  stitch  was  about  to  be  taken  the  lower  end  of  one  of  these  loops  was 
caught  over  the  splint  thread  and  held  down.  The  next  stitch  fast 
ened  the  two  ends  of  the  loops  home  (that  is,  each  stitch  caught  the  lower 
part  of  a  new  loop  and  fastened  down  both  ends  of  the  preceding  one 
after  it  had  been  doubled  back),  giving  a  series  of  imbrications  (Fig.  10). 
On  this  specimen  are  between  3,000  and  4,000  separate  loops  sewed. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  striking  examples  of  savage  patience  and  skill, 
and  must  have  occupied  in  its  construction  many  hours  of  a  renowned 
artist. 

Mr.  Jones  tells  us,  in  the  Smithsonian  Eeport  (1856,  p.  323),  that  the 
Hong  Kutchin  Indians,  who  live  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Yukon  Biver, 
make  basket-kettles  of  tamarack  roots  woven  very  neatly  and  orna 
mented  with  hair  and  dyed  porcupine  quills.  The  water  is  boiled  by 
means  of  hot  stones  thrown  in.  For  dyeing  the  roots  and  quills  they 
use  berries  and  a  kind  of  grass  growing  in  the  swamps. 

In  looking  at  these  coiled  baskets,  standing  geographically  so  far  re 
moved  from  the  Apache  and  Navajo  country,  one  is  reminded  that  the 
migration  which  separated  these  branches  of  a  great  stock  may  have 
been  northward  and  not  southward,  and  that  the  Tinne"  may  have 
carried  with  them  the  art  of  making  coiled  baskets  learned  in  a  region 
where  its  beauty  culminates. 

CHILKAHT   INDIANS. 

The  basket  work  of  these  Indians  is  superb.  Every  one  who  sees 
it  is  struck  with  its  perfection  of  workmanship,  shape,  and  ornamen 
tation.  All  the  specimens  of  the  National  Museum  collection  are  of 
the  band-box  shape ;  but  they  can  be  doubled  up  flat  like  a  grocer's 
bag  (Fig.  11).  The  material  is  the  young  and  tough  root  of  the  spruce, 
split,  and  used  either  in  the  native  color  or  dyed  brown  or  black. 
The  structure  belongs  to  the  twined  or  plaited  type  before  mentioned, 
and  there  is  such  uniformity  and  delicacy  in  the  warp  and  woof  that  a 
water-tight  vessel  is  produced  with  very  thin  walls.  In  size  the  wallets 
vary  from  a  diminutive  trinket  basket  to  a  capacity  of  more  than  a 
bushel.  All  sorts  of  lovely  designs  in  bands,  crosses,  rhombs,  chev 
rons,  triangles,  and  grecques  are  produced  thus  :  First,  the  bottom  is 
woven  plain  in  the  color  of  the.  material.  Then  in  the  building  up  of 
the  basket  bands  of  plain  color,  red  and  black,  are  woven  into  the 
structure,  having  the  same  color  on  both  sides.  Afterwards  little 
squares  or  other  plain  figures  are  sewed  on  in  aresene,  that  is,  only 
half  way  through,  giving  the  most  varied  effect  on  the  outside,  while 
the  inside  shows  only  the  plain  colors  and  the  red  and  black  bands. 
The  wild  wheat  straws  are  used  in  this  second  operation,  whipped  over 
and  over  along  the  outer  threads  of  the  underlying  woof,  or  two  straws 
are  twined  around  in  the  manner  explained  above  (page  293,  bottom). 


296  REPORT   OF   NATIONAL   MUSEUM,    1884. 

No  more  attractive  form  and  ornamentation  of  basketry  are  to  be 
seen  than  those  produced  by  the  Indians  of  this  Thlinket  stock  extend 
ing  from  Mount  Saint  Eliasto  Queen  Charlotte  Archipelago,  including 
Sitka. 

HAIDA  INDIANS. 

These  Indians  live  on  Queen  Charlotte  Archipelago  and  adjacent 
islands.  Their  basket  work  differs  in  form  from  that  of  the  Chilkahts, 
or  Thlinkets,  owing  probably  to  the  demands  of  trade ;  but  the  twined 
method  is  followed  (Fig.  12)  and  the  ornamentation  is  produced  in  a 
similar  manner.  The  quality  of  the  ware,  however,  is  a  little  degener 
ated  and  more  gaudy  (Fig.  15).  The  Haidas  are  very  skillful  in  imi 
tating  all  sorts  of  chinaware  in  basketry,  such  as  teapots,  sugar  bowls, 
toilet  articles,  table  mats,  bottles,  and  hats.  They  also  introduce  curved 
lines  and  spirals  with  good  effect.  The  basketry  hats  of  spruce  roots, 
the  most  striking  of  their  original  designs,  are  made  by  the  twining 
process  (Fig.  14).  The  crown  is  twined  weaving  of  the  most  regular 
workmanship  and  the  fabric  is  perfectly  water- tight  when  thoroughly 
wet  (Fig.  15).  An  element  of  ornamentation  is  introduced  into  the  brims 
by  which  a  series  of  diamond  patterns  cover  the  whole  surface  (Fig.  16). 
This  decoration  is  produced  thus :  Beginning  at  a  certain  point  the 
weaver  includes  two  warp  strands  in  a  half  twist,  instead  of  one ;  then 
makes  two  regular  twists  around  single- warp  strands.  The  next  time 
she  comes  around  she  repeats  the  process,  but  her  double  stitch  is  one  in 
advance  of  or  behind  its  predecessor.  A  twilled  effect  of  any  shape 
may  be  thus  produced,  and  rhombs,  triangulated  fillets,  and  chevrons 
made  to  appear  on  either  surface. 

The  "fastening  off"  of  the  work  is  done  either  by  bending  down  the 
free  ends  of  the  warp  and  shoving  them  out  of  sight  under  the  stitches 
of  the  twisted  web,  or  a  braid  of  four  strands  forms  the  last  row  (Fig. 
16),  set  on  so  that  the  whole  braid  shows  outside  and  only  one  row  of 
strands  shows  inside.  The  ends  of  the  warp  splints  are  then  cropped 
close  to  the  braid.  This  appearance  of  the  entire  four-stranded  braid 
on  the  external  surface  is  produced  by  passing  each  of  the  four  strands 
alternately  behind  one  of  the  warp  sticks  as  the  braiding  is  being  done 
(Fig.  16).  (Compare  this  with  what  was  previously  said  about  the  bas 
ket  from  the  Malabar  coast,  page  292.) 

Special  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  painted  ornamentation  on 
these  hats  (Figs.  14  and  15)  showing  head,  wings,  feet,  and  tail  of  the 
duck,  laid  on  in  black  and  red  in  the  conventional  manner  of  ornamenta 
tion  in  vogue  among  the  Haidas  and  used  in  the  reproduction  of  their 
various  totems  on  all  of  their  houses,  wood  and  slate  carvings,  and  the 
ornamentation  of  their  implements.  * 

*A  very  interesting  instance  of  survival  is  to  be  seen  in  the  rag  carpets  of  these 
Indians.  The  missionaries  have  taught  the  women  to  save  up  their  rags  and  to 
cover  their  floors  with  pretty  mats.  They  are  allowed  to  weave  them  in  their  own 
way,  however,  and  the  result  is  a  mat  constructed  on  the  ancient  twined  model,  pre 
cisely  as  the  weaving  is  done  on  the  mats  and  hats. 


ABORIGINAL    BASKET-WORK.  297 

Tbe  method  of  manufacture  of  Haida  twined  basketry  is  shown  by 
Mr.  J.  G.  Swan  in  a  specimen  collected  expressly  for  the  National 
Museum  (Figs.  17-19).  Mr.  Swan  says,  "This  style  of  making  bas 
kets  differs  from  that  of  Cape  Flattery.  There  the  women  sit  on  the 
ground  and  weave  baskets  and  mats,  both  of  which  rest  on  the  ground.7' 

With  the  Haidas  the  mats  are  suspended  on  a  frame  and  the  baskets 
supported  on  a  stick  as  in  Fig.  17.  The  black  color  of  the  spruce  root 
used  in  making  ornamental  patterns  is  produced  by  soaking  it  in  the 
mud.  Fig.  18  shows  the  bottom  of  the  basket  made  by  the  twining 
process.  The  border  of  the  bottom  is  marked  off  by  a  row  of  double 
weaving  or  a  twine  built  outside  the  body  of  the  basket  just  as  in  the 
Eskimo  basket  before  described  (page  293).  A  section  of  the  structure 
is  shown  in  Fig.  19  where  the  border  ends. 

BILHOOLAS,  ETC. 

Along  the  coast  of  British  Columbia  the  great  cedar  (Thuja  gigantea] 
grows  in  the  greatest  abundance,  and  its  bast  furnishes  a  textile  ma 
terial  of  the  greatest  value.  Here  in  the  use  of  this  pliable  material 
the  savages  seem  for  the  first  time  to  have  thought  of  checker- weaving 
(Fig.  20).  Numerous  mats,  wallets,  and  rectangular  baskets  are  pro 
duced  by  the  plainest  crossing  of  alternate  strands  varying  in  width 
from  a  millimeter  to  an  inch  (Fig.  21).  Ornamentation  is  effected 
both  by  introducing  different-colored  strands  and  by  varying  the  width 
of  the  warp  or  the  woof  threads.  In  several  examples  the  bottom  of 
the  basket  is  bordered  with  one  or  more  lines  of  the  twined  or  plaited 
style  of  weaving,  to  give  greater  stability  to  the  form.  Cedar  mats  of 
great  size  and  made  with  the  greatest  care  enter  as  extensively  into 
the  daily  life  of  the  Indians  of  this  vicinity  as  do  the  buffalo  robes  into 
that  of  the  Dakota  Indians.  They  may  be  seen  upon  the  floors,  sleep 
ing  berths,  before  the  doors  of  the  houses,  and  they  are  also  used  as 
sails  for  their  boats  and  wrapped  around  the  dead. 

It  is  not  astonishing  that  a  material  so  easily  worked  should  have 
found  its  way  so  extensively  in  the  industries  of  this  stock  of  Indians. 
Neither  should  we  wonder  that  the  checker  pattern  in  weaving  should 
first  appear  on  the  west  coast  among  the  only  peoples  possessing  a  ma 
terial  eminently  adapted  to  this  form  of  manipulation.  It  is  only  an 
other  example  of  that  beautiful  harmony  between  man  and  nature  which 
delights  the  anthropologist  at  every  step  of  his  journey. 

MAKAHS  AND   CHIHALIS. 

We  are  now  introduced  to  still  another  style  of  basketry,  very  primi 
tive  but  capable  of  very  delicate  treatment.  I  do  not  know  of  its  ex 
istence  outside  of  the  Nutka  stock  living  on  the  southwest  side  of 
Vancouver  Island  and  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Washington  Terri 
tory,  except  in  two  cases,  to  be  presently  mentioned.  It  may  be  called 
the  "  fish-trap  style,"  since  without  doubt  the  finer  basketry  is  the 


298  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,    1884. 

lineal  descendant  of  the  rude  wicker  fish- trap.  Imagine  a  number  of 
stakes  driven  into  the  ground  pretty  close  together.  A  horizontal  pole 
is  laid  against  them  in  the  rear,  and  by  the  wrappings  of  a  withe 
around  the  pole  and  each  upright  stake  diagonally  on  the  outside  and 
vertically  on  the  inside,  a  spiral  fastening  is  produced  (Fig.  23).  This 
stitch  crosses  the  two  fundamentals  in  front  at  an  angle  and  the  hori 
zontal  frame-piece  in  the  rear  at  right  angles,  or  vice  versa,  and  the 
lacing  may  always  run  in  the  same  direction,  or  the  alternate  rows  of 
lacing  may  run  in  opposite  directions,  as  in  Fig.  23.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  in  soft  and  pliable  material  this  operation  constantly  pushes  the 
uprights  forward  a  little,  giving  to  the  fabric  an  appearance  of  the 
back  of  a  watch  (Figs.  24-26). 

The  Clallam  Indians  of  the  Selish  stock  make  a  carrying  basket  in 
this  manner  (Figs.  22, 23),  the  frame  (warp  and  woof)  sticks  being  about 
one-eighth  inch  in  diameter,  lashed  in  place  with  split  ozier  or  root. 
The  Japanese  also  make  a  fish-trap  similarly,  with  the  exception  that 
the  coiled  splint  passes  alternately  backward  and  forward,  so  that  if  the 
horizontal  were  pulled  out  the  fabric  would  tumble  to  pieces.  The  ob 
long  oval  shields  of  bamboo,  made  by  the  Bateke  negroes  of  the  Lower 
Congo,  imitate  this  structure  exactly.  The  frame  of  the  shield  is  an 
oblong  hoop  on  which  are  stretched  splints  of  rattan,  running  longitudi 
nally  on  one  side  and  transversely  on  the  other,  crossing  at  right  angles 
except  at  the  plano-convex  space  at  the  ends.  Splints  of  bamboo,  about 
one-eighth  inch  wide,  are  woven  into  these  cross  strands  precisely  after 
the  manner  of  the  Makah  basketry,  the  consequence  being  a  series  of 
square  stitches  on  the  back  and  diagonal  stitches  on  the  front,  closely 
fitting,  and  coving  the  surface  completely.  Now,  if  the  frame  were  cedar- 
bark  threads  about  the  size  of  pack  threads,  and  the  lashing  of  white 
sea-grass,  we  would  have  the  Makah  basket  (Figs.  24-26).  It  takes 
three  sets  of  threads  (Fig.  25),  the  radiated  warp,  the  coiled  woof,  and 
the  spiral-binding  thread,  to  finish  the  compound.  No  other  area  is 
known  to  the  writer  where  this  peculiar  pattern  is  wrought  irto  deli 
cate  fabrics.  The  Makahs  belong  to  the  Nutka  stock,  most  of  which  are 
on  the  southwest  shore  of  Vancouver  Island,  including  the  great  group 
of  Aht  tribes.  No  Aht  basketry  is  in  the  Museum,  but  it  would  be  ex 
tremely  interesting  to  trace  this  unique  method  of  basket-weaving 
among  all  the  tribes  of  the  stock.  Bands  of  serrate  patterns  are  pro 
duced  in  color  by  using  different  wrapping  threads,  the  principal  one 
being  grass  dyed  black  in  mud. 

There  is  one  specimen  of  the  cedar-bark  mat  from  Vancouver  Island 
in  which  the  shreded  bark  which  serves  for  warp  is  fastened  at  inter 
vals  of  about  an  inch  by  a  chain-stitch  instead  of  the  twine.  This  must 
have  been  a  modern  innovation ;  at  least  there  is  not  another  evidence 
in  this  collection  of  savage  acquaintance  with  the  chain-stitch. 

The  Clallams,  adjoining  the  Makahs,  but  of  the  Selish  or  Flathead 
stock,  in  addition  to  the  fish-trap  or  bower  style,  are  the  first  going 


ABORIGINAL    BASKET-WORK.  299 

southward  to  produce  a  twilled  pattern  over  the  entire  surface  of  the 
vessel  (Figs.  27,  28).  A  slight  exception  to  this  statement  is  the  orna 
mentation  on  the  brim  of  the  Haida  rain-hat.  It  occurs  again  in  Mexico 
and  among  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Chetimachas,  and  in  South  Amer 
ica.  A  moment's  reflection  will  show  that  the  administration  of  the 
three-ply  method  of  the  Makahs  is  a  derivation  of  the  plicate  or  twisted 
sort.  If  either  strand  of  a  twist,  the  inner  or  the  outer,  be  drawn 
straight,  the  plait  will  become  the  fish- trap  pattern.  In  most  of  the 
Makah  baskets  the  straight  piece  is  laid  inside  the  uprights,  but  there 
are  examples  in  which  it  is  laid  outside  resembling  the  regular  plaited 
stitch.  The  Indians  of  this  coast  prior  to  the  advent  of  the  white  man 
made  heavy  and  beautiful  blankets  of  the  wool  of  the  Eocky  Mountain 
sheep,  and  of  the  hair  of  animals  killed  in  the  chase,  dyed  in  different 
colors.  The  patterns  are  all  geometric,  and  are,  in  fact,  woven  mosaics, 
each  figure  being  inserted  separately  by  twisting  two  woof  threads  back 
ward  and  forward  around  the  warp  strands.  Scarcely  ever  does  the 
twine  extend  in  stripes  all  the  way  across  the  blanket  in  a  direct  line. 

Like  the  Haidas  the  Makahs  prepare  a  great  many  forms  of  basketry 
for  trade.  A  great  variety  of  colors  is  used  in  the  decoration.  The 
hatch  surface,  produced  by  the  use  of  three  strands  in  weaving,  gives 
to  the  basketry  of  this  type  a  very  unique  and  pleasing  effect.  Fig. 
25  represents  a  common  specimen  of  Makah  basketry. 

Fig.  29  shows  a  bottle  covered  with  ornamental  basketry.  In  the 
bottom  the  radiating  warp  is  inclosed  in  the  twined  weft.  The  warp 
threads  are  carried  over  the  surface  of  the  bottle,  crossing  each  other 
and  producing  rhomboids,  after  the  manner  of  the  Japanese  basketry. 
The  twined  coil  (Fig.  31)  connects  the  crossings  of  the  warp  threads. 
This  is  a  very  interesting  specimen,  inasmuch  as  the  bower  or  fish-trap 
style  is  replaced  by  the  regular  twined  weaving  of  the  Indians  farther 
north. 

Figs.  32,  33  represent  a  specimen  from  the  Olallams,  which  seems  to  be 
an  example  of  commerce.  The  coil  is  sewed  on  conveniently,  and  the 
ornamentation  upon  the  sides  is  produced  by  laying  the  straw  or  quill  of 
different  color  upon  the  regular  stitching,  and  sewing  it  on  one  stitch 
over  two  original  stitches.  This  is  a  very  beautiful  and  strongly  made 
specimen, 

OREGON  AND   CALIFORNIA  TRIBES. 

Along  the  western  coast  of  the  United  States  from  Puget  Sound  to 
Lower  California  are  many  separate  stocks  of  Indians,  quite  easily 
recognized  by  the  material  and  ornamentation  of  their  basketry,  but  fol 
lowing  two  fundamental  structures — the  twined  and  the  whipped  coil. 
Some  of  these  tribes  are  called  Diggers  because  they  subsist  on  roots, 
seeds,  etc.  It  would  be  more  reasonable  to  call  them  "  basket  Indians." 
The  Klamath  and  the  McLeod  Indians  of  Northern  California  use  the 
twined  method,  making  water-tight  and  flexible  baskets  of  grea,t  beauty 
(Fig.  3'4).  The  ornamentation  is  produced  by  the  alternation  of  black 


300  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,    1884. 

and  white  threads  in  stripes  and  geometric  figures  of  endless  variety 
(Fig.  35).  A  very  pretty  coarse  wallet  is  produced  by  using  vertical 
rushes  for  the  foundations  and  twining  bands  of  two  or  three  rows  at 
intervals  of  a  few  inches. 

The  coiled  and  whipped  structure  is  employed  by  many  tribes  through 
out  California  (Figs.  36,  37,  from  Eel  River  tribe).  In  most  of  them  the 
double  coil  is  used;  that  is,  two  rods  or  osiers  are  carried  around,  or 
an  osier  overlaid  with  a  strip  of  bark  or  yucca  (See  Tinne"  Indian 
baskets,  page  294.)  The  sewing  is  over  both  and  down  under  only  the 
upper  one  of  the  coil  just  beneath.  Some  of  the  baskets  of  this  area  are 
of  the  greatest  beauty,  both  in  form,  texture,  and  in  ornamentation. 

The  principal  shapes  are  the  inverted  truncated  cone,  the  ginger  jar, 
and  the  shallow  dish  or  tray.  From  willow  twigs  and  pine  roots  they 
weave  large,  round  mats  for  holding  acorn  flour;  various  sized,  flattish, 
squash-shaped  baskets,  water  tight;  deep  conical  ones  of  about  a 
bushel  capacity  to  be  carried  on  their  backs ;  skull  caps,  which  are  also 
drinking  cups,  worn  by  the  squaws.  They  ornament  the  baskets  by 
weaving  in  black  rootlets  or  bark  in  squares,  diamonds,  and  zigzags. 
(Powers:  Cont.  K  A.  Ethnology,  III,  p.  47.) 

On  Tule  Eiver  long  stalks  of  Sporobolus  are  used  for  warps.  For 
thread  pine  root  is  used  for  white,  willow  bark  for  the  brown,  and  some 
unknown  bark  for  the  black.  The  needle  is  a  sharpened  thigh-bone  of 
a  hawk.  (Id.,  p.  377.) 

The  Modok  women  formerly  made  a  buby-basket  of  willow- work,  in 
shape  resembling  a  tailor's  slipper  or  an  old-fashioned  watch- holder, 
and  having  various  devices  to  shade  the  face.  The  warp  is  of  straight 
rods,  the  woof  consists  of  bands  of  twined  work,  just  enough  to  hold  the 
warp  together,  most  of  the  space  being  left  open.  Some  of  the  Northern 
California  tribes  make  a  baby-basket  similar  in  shape  to  the  Sioux  and 
Cheyenne  beaded  cradle-boards. 

The  Californian  Indians  from  Tule*  Lake  to  the  Gulf  of  California 
use  the  greatest  care  in  securing  uniformity  and  fineness  to  the  founda 
tion  and  the  stitch.  Their  skill  will  compare  favorably  with  that 
of  the  Siamese,  who  do  very  similar  work.  The  needle  is  the  long 
bone  of  a  bird  or  mammal,  the  joint  remaining  for  a  handle  and  the 
point  being  forward  of  the  central  hard  portion  of  the  bone.  The 
female  basket- weaver  pierces  a  hole  in  the  fabric  at  the  proper  point, 
draws  the  thread  of  grass  or  woody  fibre  through  the  aperture,  biting 
the  end  to  sharpen  her  thread  if  necessary,  and  presses  the  stitches 
home  with  the  bone  needle. 

The  ornamentation  is  in  color,  pattern,  and  accessories.  The  natu 
ral  color  of  the  material  is  the  basis  of  the  basket.  A  very  dark 
brown  and  a  very  light  brown  colored  straw  is  worked  into  chevrons 
and  zigzag  lines  in  endless  variety.  A  strip  of  reed  or  grass  is  some 
times  carried  around  on  the  outside,  concealed  by  two,  three,  or  more 
stitches,  then  overlapping  the  same  number,  forming  a  checkered 


ABORIGINAL    BASKET-WORK.  301 

band.  Beads  are  also  laid  on,  and  bits  of  worsted,  even,  making  animal 
forms.  The  most  beautiful  ornament  is  that  produced  by  feathers,  one 
being  laid  on  for  each  stitch,  forming  an  imbricated  covering,  conceal 
ing  the  entire  surface.  When  parti-colored  feathers  are  used  the  effect 
is  very  wonderful. 

SAHAPTIN  STOCK. 

In  the  mountains  of  Idaho  live  the  Nez  Percys  Indians  belonging  to 
the  Sahaptin  stock.  The  Museum  possesses  a  few  samples  of  their 
basketry.  Figs.  38,  39,  represents  a  flexible  wallet  made  of  the  bast  of 
Indian  hemp  (Apocynum  cannabinum).  There  is  nothing  remarkable 
in  the  manufacture  of  this  specimen.  The  weaving  belongs  to  the 
twined  type. 

The  body  color  is  the  natural  hue  of  the  material.  Nearly  the  whole 
surface,  however,  is  covered  with  ornamentation  in  patterns  of  brown, 
green,  red,  and  black.  This  ornamental  portion  is  produced  by  the 
sewing  of  embroidery  over  the  entire  surface  of  the  bag,  the  stitches 
passing  only  half  way  through,  so  that  the  fabric  is  plain  on  one  side 
and  ornamented  on  the  other. 

THE   GREAT   INTERIOR   BASIN. 

Leaving  now  the  west  coast,  we  may  examine  the  basketry  of  the 
Great  Interior  Basin,  including  that  of  the  Shoshones,  the  Apaches, 
the  Pueblos,  and  the  tribes  living  around  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado. 

Shoshones. — This  great  stock  of  Indians  employ  both  structures,  the 
twined  and  the  whipped  coil.  The  plaited  stitch  is  used  in  the  conoidal 
basket  hats  or  mush  bowls  (Figs.  40,  41),  the  roasting  trays  (Fig.  42), 
and  the  fanning  or  seed  gathering  trays  (Fig.  43),  and  wands  (Fig.  44). 
The  coiled  and  whipped  structure  is  used  in  the  pitched  water  bottles 
(Fig.  45),  and  the  basket  trays  (Fig.  47). 

Conoidal  basket  hats  are  made  of  willow  splints  or  Khus,  the  warp 
radiating  from  the  apex,  the  woof  splints  being  carried  around  and 
twined  in  pairs,  in  the  manner  so  frequently  described  (Fig.  40). 
The  woof  is  so  thoroughly  driven  home  as  to  give  the  appearance  of 
the  simple  osier  of  the  east.  Ornamentation  is  produced  by  using  one 
or  more  rows  of  black  splints,  dyed  with  the  Sueda  diffusa. 

The  roasting  trays  are  shaped  like  a  scoop,  rimmed  with  a  large 
twig  (Fig.  42).  The  warp  is  made  of  parallel  twigs  laid  close  together, 
and  held  in  place  by  cross  plaitings  about  half  an  iiich  apart.  It  is 
said  that  Shoshones  place  the  seeds  of  wild  plants  in  these  trays 
with  hot  stones  and  thus  roast  them.  The  specimen  figured  is  much 
charred  on  the  upper  side.  Dr.  Edward  Palmer  also  describes  their 
use  in  fanning  the  hulls  and  epidermis  of  the  Pinus  monophylla  seed. 
a  The  Indians  remove  the  hulls  by  putting  a  number  of  nuts  on  a  metate 
and  rolling  a  flat  pestle  backward  and  forward  until  the  hulls  are 


302  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,    1884. 

loosened.     The  mass  is  then  put  in  a  flat  basket  tray  and  the  hulls 
blown  off."     (Am.  Nat.  1878,  p.  594.) 

In  Schoolcraftfs  History  of  Indian  Tribes,  pt.  5,  pis.  26,  27,  will  be  seen 
Indian  women  gathering  seeds  in  conical  baskets,  beating  the  plants 
with  a  spoon-shaped  wand  towards  the  basket,  held  in  the  left  hand, 
with  the  mouth  of  the  basket  just  under  the  plants  (Figs.  43,  44).  The 
baskets  are  made  in  every  respect  like  the  conoidal  hats  and  the  fans 
are  made  of  twigs  closely  woven  on  the  same  pattern. 

The  water  bottles  belong  to  the  coiled  and  whipped  structure.  As 
before  mentioned,  this  style  can  be  made  coarse  or  fine,  according  to 
the  material  and  size  of  the  coil  and  the  outer  thread.  If  two  twigs  of 
uniform  thickness  are  carried  around,  the  stitch  will  be  hatchy  and 
open ;  but  if  one  of  the  twigs  is  larger  than  the  other,  or  if  yucca  or 
other  fiber  replace  one  of  them  and  narrower  sewing  material  be  used, 
the  texture  will  be  much  finer.  These  bottles  differ  in  shape;  one  class 
has  round  bottoms,  another  long,  pointed  bottoms;  one  has  wide 
mouths,  another  small  mouths;  one  class  has  a  little  osier  handle  on 
the  side  of  the  mouth  like  a  pitcher,  but  the  majority  have  one  or  two 
loops  of  wood,  horse-hair,  or  osier  fastened  on  one  side  for  a  carrying 
strap.  All  of  these  are  quite  heavy,  having  been  dipped  in  pitch. 
The  same  form  is  found  among  the  Apaches,  Mohaves,  Mokis,  and  Eio 
Grande  Pueblos;  but  it  is  not  improbable  that  they  were  obtained  from 
the  Utes  in  barter  or  by  purchase. 

The  basket  trays  of  the  Utes  do  not  differ  essentially  in  general  style 
from  those  of  the  Gila  Kiver  tribes,  but  they  are  much  coarser.  Among 
the  coiled  basket  trays  in  the  collection  accredited  to  the  Utes  are  in 
deed  two  styles,  but  one  of  them  resembles  so  much  those  of  their 
Apache  neighbors  on  the  south  as  to  raise  the  suspicion  that  they  were 
obtained  by  barter.  However  that  may  be,  we  are  permitted  to  call 
them  the  Ute  pattern  and  the  Apache  pattern.  The  Ute  basket  tray  is 
made  like  the  Ute  water-bottle.  A  bundle  of  grass  stems,  two,  three, 
or  four,  are  coiled  around  and  sewed  to  the  upper  twig  of  the  coil  just 
below.  By  the  way  in  which  the  coil  turns  it  is  easy  to  tell  whether 
the  upper  or  the  under  surface  was  towards  the  sewer,  the  work  always 
necessarily  moving  to  the  left  hand.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  most  of  these 
coarse  baskets  were  built  up  with  the  concave  towards  the  workman, 
that  side  presenting  a  more  finished  appearance.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  finer  baskets,  here  called  Apache,  are  coiled  the  other  way.  The 
foundation  is  a  slender  bundle  of  yucca  fiber  or  a  twig  and  yucca  leaf 
combination,  which  enables  the  workman  to  produce  a  compact  water 
tight  stitch  similar  to  that  in  the  California  baskets  just  described. 
The  Apaches  understand  thoroughly  the  use  of  this  stitch,  and  their 
ornamental  patterns  in  black  have  the  greatest  variety.  The  ornament 
of  one  specimen  in  the  collection,  supposed  to  be  Apache,  but  possibly 
made  by  some  California  tribes,  consists  of  a  series  of  spiral  bands 


ABORIGINAL    BASKET-WORK.  303 

widening  from  the  bottom  towards  the  rim;  in  each  of  the  spiral  bands 
a  row  of  five  men  extends  from  midway  in  the  basket  to  the  upper 
edge,  their  places  below  being  taken  by  smaller  patterns*  (Figs.  49-65). 

Moki  baskets. — Of  the  seven  Moki  pueblos  six  speak  the  Ute  lan 
guage.  It  will  not  be  surprising  also  to  see  them  making  similar 
baskets.  This  is  partly  true  and  partly  false.  The  Moki  have  both 
coiled  and  plaited  or  twined  baskets.  Their  twined  baskets  are  few  in 
number.  Their  coiled  baskets,  except  the  water-bottles,  are  of  a  per 
fectly  unique  pattern.  In  addition,  they  use  one  method  of  work  com 
mon  enough  in  other  parfs  of  the  world,  but  thus  far  unknown  west  of 
the  Eocky  Mountains.  I  speak  of  the  common  single-coiled  osier  or 
splint  employed  by  all  eastern  Indians  and  by  the  negro  and  white 
basket-maker.  The  Moki  also  imitate  the  checker  weaving  of  the  Bella 
Bellas,  and  the  twilled  weaving  of  the  Olallams. 

The  plaited  ware  of  the  Mokis  are  a  few  peach-baskets,  made  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  Ute  hats,  but  there  is  enough  dissimilarity  of  form 
to  give  the  Moki  the  credit  of  inventing  this  peculiar  style  (Figs.  66-79). 

The  coiled  and  sewed  ware,  aside  from  the  water-bottles  and  a  few 
bread-trays,  which  are  evidences  rather  of  barter  than  manufacture,  de 
mand  our  special  attention.  Among  the  Mokis  and  nowhere  else,  so  far 
as  the  Museum  is  concerned,  except  in  Nubia,  are  to  be  found  thick- 
coiled  baskets  called  sacred  meal-trays,  having  about  the  concavity  of 
old  fashioned  pie-plates,  and  varying  in  diameter  from  a  few  inches  to 
over  twenty.  A  bundle  of  grass  or  the  nerves  of  the  yucca  leaf,  from 
half  an  inch  to  an  inch  in  diameter,  is  coiled  around  and  sewed  with 
strips  of  yucca  leaf  of  uniform  width,  rarely  exceeding  the  twelfth 
of  an  inch.  The  thread  is  passed  regularly  around  the  coil,  drawn 
tightly,  and  passed  between  threads  and  through  a  few  fibers  of  the 
grass  in  the  coil  beneath.  It  is  difficult  to  tell  whether  any  pains  is 
taken  to  lock  the  threads  of  the  coils  or  not.  At  first  the  coil  is  very 
small  and  widens  as  the  dish  enlarges.  These  plates  are  all  made  to  be 
looked  at  inside,  the  coiling  being  invariably  towards  the  left  on  the 
upper  surface.  I  have  not  seen  one  exception.  True  to  this  instinct, 
when  a  Moki  constructs  a  hat  of  the  same  material  to  please  some  white 
man,  he  makes  the  convex  of  the  hat  correspond  to  the  concave  of  his 
tray,  the  outside  of  the  hat  being  thus  rough  and  the  inside  smooth. 
The  ornamentation  of  these  trays  is  produced  as  follows :  One  side  of 

[*NOTE. — Says  Dr.  E.  Palmer:  "In  Utah,  Arizona,  Southern  California,  and  New 
Mexico  the  Indians  depend  solely  on  the  Rhus  aromatica,  var.  tribola  (squawberry)  for 
material  out  of  which  to  make  their  baskets.  It  is  far  more  durable  and  tougher 
than  the  willow,  which  is  not  used  by  these  Indians.  The  twigs  are  soaked  in  water 
to  soften  them  and  to  loosen  the  bark,  which  is  scraped  off  by  the  females.  The  twigs 
are  then  split  by  the  use  of  the  mouth  and  hands.  Their  baskets  are  built  up  by  a 
succession  of  small  rolls  of  grass,  over  which  these  twigs  are  firmly  and  closely  bound. 
A  bone  awl  is  used  to  make  the  holes  under  the  rim  of  the  grass  for  the  split  twigs. 
Baskets  made  thus  are  very  durable,  will  hold  water,  and  are  often  used  to  cook  in, 
hot  stones  being  dropped  in  until  the  food  is  done."  (Am.  Nat.  1875,  p.  598).] 


304  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,    1884. 

the  stripped  yucca  leaf  is  dark  green,  the  other  light  green  and  white 
striped  fading  into  yellow.  Now  by  deftly  turning  the  thread  where  it 
passes  through  the  coil  in  sewing  a  variety  of  shades  is  produced,  as 
in  shaded  worsted  work.  Again,  by  dyeing  the  threads  black,  blue, 
red,  yellow,  and  combining  color  effects  with  the  natural  shades  of  the 
leaf,  the  most  beautiful  ornamentation  is  produced.  There  is  some 
method  .in  the  patterns  which  usually  commences  from  a  blank  center 
of  a  few  coils  with  four  brown  spots  of  six  stitches  each.  From  these 
fundamental  points  all  sorts  of  geometric  figures  are  produced  by  the 
simple  process  of  sewing  with  different-colored  threads. 

The  coiled  and  decorated  ozier  bread- trays  of  the  Mokis  are  made,  I 
have  been  informed,  at  only  one  pueblo,  Oraibi.  The  frame  consists  of 
two  cross  sets  of  twigs,  from  12  to  16  in  each  bar  of  the  cross.  These  are 
firmly  held  together  at  their  intersection  by  sewing  and  plaiting.  They 
then  are  spread  out  radially,  the  space  being  from  time  to  time  sup 
plemented  by  additional  twigs.  The  workman  provides  himself  with 
bunches  of  white,  yellow,  orange,  purple,  black,  blue,  and  green  twigs 
only  a  few  inches  in  length.  These  he  proceeds  to  weave  into  patterns 
of  the  greatest  beauty,  even  imitating  cloud  effects  seen  on  Japanese 
screens,  using  short  or  long  twigs  as  the  occasion  demands,  hiding  the 
ends  between  the  ribs  and  the  filling  of  the  preceding  coils.  The  process 
is  the  same  as  that  employed  by  the  Navahos  in  making  the  clouded 
blankets,  and  by  the  northwest  coast  Indians  in  their  ancient  mountain- 
sheep  blankets.  The  greatest  variety  of  ornament  is  produced,  but,  as 
in  the  coiled  work,  the  center  is  always  plain.  Under  the  influence  of 
trade,  however,  the  ancient  patterns  are  giving  way  to  those  demanded 
by  the  purchasers.  As  the  patterns  are  really  mosaics  and  could  be 
picked  out  it  will  be  easily  seen  that  the  figures  on  the  back  and  front 
do  not  exactly  conform,  the  corresponding  square  on  the  back  being 
always  one  space  to  the  right  or  left  of  the  same  in  front. 

The  Moki  common  twig  basket  is  as  rough  as  rough  can  be ;  the  same 
is  true  of  the  flat  mats  used  about  their  dwellings.  They  are  woven  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  market  baskets  which  we  are  accustomed  to 
see  every  day.  The  twilled  effect  on  the  flat  mats  i^  produced  by  over 
lapping  two  warp  strands  by  ^ach  of  the  woof  strands. 

Yucca  baskets  and  trays  of  a  very  coarse  character  are  made  by  the 
Mokis,  woven  sometimes  in  plain  checker,  at  other  times  in  twill.  Al 
though  the  material  is  very  coarse,  quite  pleasing  effects  are  produced 
by  the  two  sides  of  the  leaf  and  by  the  different  shades  of  the  same 
side. 

Zuni  basketry. — Although  one  may  see  at  Zuni  all  sorts  of  baskets, 
the  most  of  them,  including  coiled  or  whipped  trays,  Moki  coiled  and 
twig  basket  trays,  none  of  these  are  made  there.  The  only  basket  of 
the  Zunis  is  their  little,  very  rough  twig  peach  basket,  hardly  worthy 
of  notice  except  for  its  ugliness  and  simplicity  (Figs.  80-82). 


ABORIGINAL    BASKET-WORK.  305 

SOUTHERN  INDIAN  BASKETRY. 

In  the  States  of  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida,. 
Alabama-,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana  are  many  Indians  still  living,  rem 
nants  of  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Creeks,  Chickasaws,  and  Seminoles^ 
removed  fifty  years  ago  into  the  Indian  Territory.  Through  the  low 
land  portion  of  these  States  grow  the  interminable  cane-brakes,  and 
from  the  split  cane  all  these  tribes  make  their  basketry.  They  all  fol 
low  the  twilled  pattern  of  the  common  checker  weaving.  If  there  i& 
any  one  tribe  that  excels  it  is  the  Choctaws,  who  even  now  expose  for 
sale  in  the  markets  of  Mobile,  New  Orleans,  and  other  southern  cities 
little  baskets  of  green,  yellow,  red,  and  black  caner«*roven  in  twill, 
crossing  with  the  woof  two  or  more  warp  splints,  and  managing  the 
stitches  so  as  to  produce  diamonds  and  various  zigzag  patterns  on  the 
outside.  They  make  a  basket  oval  at  the  top  and  pointed  below  for 
presents,  averring,  as  I  was  informed  by  a  gentleman  well  acquainted 
with  them,  that  this  shape  imitated  the  heart,  which  should  always 
accompany  every  gift.  The  handles  of  their  basketry  are  very  clumsily 
put  on,  marring  greatly  the  appearance  of  the  otherwise  attractive 
object  (Figs.  85-95). 

ALGONKIN  AND  IROQUOIS  BASKETRY. 

All  along  our  northern  frontier  and  in  many  parts  of  Canada  the 
descendants  of  the  once  powerful  Algonkin  and  Iroquois  fabricate  bas 
kets  from  the  birch,  linden,  and  other  white  woods.  The  method  of  man 
ufacture  is  universally  the  same :  it  is  the  plainest  in-and-out  weaving. 
The  basketry  is  very  far  from  monotonous,  however,  for  the  greatest 
variety  is  secured  by  difference  of  form,  of  color,  of  the  relative  size  of 
the  parts,  and  of  ornamentation.  In  form  these  baskets  run  the  whole 
gamut  as  among  the  Haida  and  the  Maka,  guided  by  the  maker's  fancy 
and  the  demands  of  trade.  These  Indians  all  live  on  the  border  of  civil 
ization  and  derive  a  large  revenue  from  the  sale  of  their  wares.  The  col 
ors  are  of  native  manufacture,  red,  yellow,  blue,  green,  alternating  with 
the  natural  color  of  the  wood.  By  changing  the  relative  size  of  the  part& 
a  great  variety  of  effects  is  produced.  To  commence  with  the  rudest, 
let  us  take  a  dozen  or  sixteen  strips  of  paper  half  an  inch  wide,  and 
cross  them  so  as  to  have  one-half  perpendicular  to  the  other,  woven  in 
checker  at  the  center  and  extending  to  form  the  equal  arms  of  a  cross. 
Bend  up  these  arms  perpendicular  with  the  woven  checker  and  pass  a 
continuous  splint  similar  to  the  frame- work  round  and  round  in  a  con 
tinuous  coil  from  the  bottom  to  the  top.  Bend  a  hoop  of  wood  so  as  to 
fit  the  top,  bend  down  the  upright  splints  over  this,  and  sew  the  whole 
together  with  a  whipping  of  splint,  and  you  will  have  the  type  basket. 
Now,  by  varying  the  width  of  the  splint  used  to  cover  the  sides  you 
secure  a  great  difference  of  appearance.  In  the  National  Museum  are 
baskets  made  of  uniformly  cut  splints  not  over  the  one-sixteenth  of  an. 
inch  in  width. 

S.  Mis.  33,  pt.  2 1^0 


306  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL,    MUSEUM,    1884. 

Finally  the  Algonkin  and  Iroquois  as  well  as  the  Southern  Indian 
know  how  to  decorate  in  baskets  with  a  great  variety  of  rolls  looking 
much  like  the  napkins  on  the  table  of  a  hotel.  He  draws  a  splint  under 
the  warp  stick,  gives  it  a  turn  up  or  down,  or  two  turns  in  different  di 
rections  and  draws  his  loose  end  tightly  under  the  next  warp  stick  but 
one.  This  operation  he  repeats,  forming  around  his  basket  one  or  more 
rows  of  projecting  ornaments. 

CENTRAL  AND  SOUTH  AMERICAN  BASKETRY. 

The  Museum  is  not  rich  in  South  American  baskets.  Those  from 
British  Guiana  are  precisely  like  those  described  by  E.  im  Thurn  in  his 
work  entitled  "  Among  the  Indians  of  British  Guiana."  The  specimens 
in  hand  are  all  of  the  twill  pattern,  wrought  from  a  brown  vegetable 
fiber  which  shows  the  same  on  both  sides.  This  twill  is  used  with  good 
effect  in  the  diagonally  woven  cassava  strainers,  which  may  be  con 
tracted  in  length  by  a  corresponding  increase  of  the  width.  When  the 
grated  cassava  is  packed  into  this  strainer  it  is  suspended  and  a  great 
weight  fastened  to  the  bottom.  The  same  device  in  cloth  is  used  by 
country  housewives  in  making  curds.  There  is  an  entire  lack  of  gaudy 
dyes  in  the  Guiana  baskets,  the  only  colors  being  the  natural  hue  of 
the  wood  and  a  jet-black  varnish.  The  gorgeous  plumage  of  the  birds 
replace  the  dyes  in  ornamentation.  Central  American  basketry  does 
not  differ  greatly  from  that  of  South  America  except  in  the  finish. 
Nothing  can  exceed  in  severe  plainness  and  accuracy  of  execution  the 
finer  ware  of  Guiana. 


PLATE  I. 

(Mason.    Basket- work. ) 

FiG  1  Aleutian  twined  wallet  of  sea-grass.  The  warp  consists  of  a  number  of 
straws  radiating  from  the  bottom.  As  the  basket  enlarges  new  straws  are 
inserted,  and  the  whole  is  held  in  place  by  twine  made  of  two  straws,  which 
inclose  a  warp  straw  at  each  half  turn.  The  cylindrical  part  of  the  vessel 
is  of  the  diamond  pattern  shown  in  Fig.  2.  The  ornamentation  is  produced 
by  embroidering  with  bits  and  strands  of  red,  blue,  and  black  worsted,  in  no 
case  showing  on  the  inside  of  the  wallet.  The  continuous  line  between  the 
diagonal  stripes  is  formed  by  whipping  with  a  single  thread  of  worsted  on 
the  outer  stitches  of  one  of  the  twines  of  straw.  Whipping  with  single 
thread  in  this  ware  is  not  common.  The  border  is  formed  of  the  very  com 
plicated  braid  described  in  the  text.  Collected  in  Attu,  by  Wm.H.  Ball. 
Museum  number,  14978. 

FIG.  2.  A  square  inch  of  Fig.  1  enlarged,  taken  from  the  part  of  the  texture  where 
the  rectangular  meshes  pass  into  the  lozenge-shaped  meshes.  The  peculiar 
method  of  splitting  the  warp  threads  and  working  the  halves  alternately  to 
the  right  and  to  the  left  is  well  shown. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  I. 


FIG.  1.  Aleutian  twined  wallet.  FIG.  2.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  1,  enlarged. 


PLATE   II. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  3.  Twined  wallet  of  the  Eskimo.  The  warp  and  the  twining  of  the  bottom  is 
of  a  very  coarse,  rush-like,  fiber.  The  bottom  is  in  openwork  and  is 
strengthened  on  its  outer  edge  by  an  extra  twine  set  on  externally.  The 
body  is  of  a  dirty  rush  color,  the  spotted  lines  on  the  cylindrical  portion  are 
in  black  and  body  color.  This  effect  may  be  varied  by  mixing  two  strands 
of  different  color  in  the  twine.  The  fastening  off  at  the  top  is  done  by 
working  the  warp  strands  into  a  three-ply  braid,  turning  down  on  the  in 
side  of  the  vessel  and  cutting  off  an  end  whenever  a  new  warp  thread  is 
taken  up  by  the  braid.  Frequently  the  last  three  or  four  warp  straws  are 
not  cut  off  but  braided  out  to  their  extremities  in  order  to  form  a  handle. 
Collected  at  Norton  Sound,  by  E.  W.  Nelson.  Museum  number,  38872. 

FIG.  4.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  3,  representing  (1)  four  rows  of  twining  on  the  cyl 
indrical  portion ;  (2)  the  method  of  adding  a  new  row  of  twining  exter 
nally  for  a  boundary  between  the  bottom  and  the  cylindrical  portion,  and 
(3)  the  method  of  forming  an  open-work  bottom. 


Keport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Baaket-work. 


PLATE  II. 


FIG.  3.  Eskimo  twined  wallet.  FIG.  4.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  3. 


PLATE  IIT. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  5.  Coiled  Eskimo  basket.  The  bottom  is  a  bit  of  old  leather,  to  which,  is  sewed, 
by  means  of  grass  thread,  a  coil  of  straws  varying  in  thickness  from  i  to  ^ 
inch.  This  coil  is  continued  to  form  the  cylindrical  side,  the  shoulder  at 
the  top,  and  the  neck.  The  disk-like  cover  is  made  in  the  same  manner. 
Collected  by  E.  W.  Nelson,  in  Norton  Sound.  Museum  number,  38469. 


.Report  Nat.  Mua.  1884.— Mason.    Baaket-work. 


PLATE  III. 


FIG.  5.  Eskimo  coiled  basket. 


PLATE  IV. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  6.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  5  enlarged,  showing  the  bunch  of  straws  used  as  the 
body  of  the  coil,  and  the  manner  of  whipping  the  turns  of  the  coil  with 
grass  threads.  Instead  of  carefully  looping  the  thread  into  the  one  just  be 
low,  as  is  done  in  the  best  coiled  work,  the  basket-maker  passed  the  sticks 
indiscriminately  through  or  between  those  below,  ^ome  of  the  Eskimo  bas 
kets,  however,  resemble  those  of  the  next  class. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  IV. 


FIG.  6    One  square  inch  of  Fig.  5. 


PLATE  V. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  7.  Coiled  basket  of  tne  Tinne"  or  Athabascan  Indians  of  Alaska  and  British 
America.  The  warp  or  foundation  is  a  single  osier  or  spruce  root,  the  sew 
ing  is  done  with  small  splints  of  spruce  root.  The  stitches  vary  from  i  to  ^ 
inch  in  length,  and  the  splints  from  ^  to  i  inch  in  width.  The  stitches  of 
each  coil  are  locked  into  the  stitches  of  the  coil  beneath  in  addition  to  pass 
ing  under  the  fundamental  rod.  In  some  cases  the  Eskimo  fashion  of  split 
ting  the  threads  in  sewing  appears,  but  the  evidence  shows  that  the  Tinne" 
were  the  teachers  of  the  Eskimo,  and  the  latter  follow  only  the  ruder  work 
of  their  preceptors.  The  general  shape  of  this  class  of  baskets  is  that  of  a 
low  narrow-mouthed  jar.  Collected  by  Lucien  M.  Turner,  Lower  Yukon 
River.  Museum  number,  24342. 

Fio.  8.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  7,  showing  the  method  pursued  in  coiled  basketry 
with  a  single  fundamental  and  a  single  splint  of  osier  or  spruce  root. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  V. 


FIG.  7.  Tinne'  coiled  basket.  FIG.  8.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  7. 


PLATE  VI. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  9.  Alaskan  Indian  coiled  basket.  The  outer  portion  is  so  covered  with  ornament 
as  to  conceal  the  texture  of  the  basket,  which  is  built  up  by  whipping  a 
coil  of  rushes  or  small  splints  with  splint  or  birch  bark.  The  bottom  of 
this  basket  is  not  a  coil,  but  a  number  of  straight  foundation  rods  sewed 
into  a  rectangular  mat,  around  this  the  sides  are  built  up  by  coiling.  The 
elaborate  ornamentation  is  described  under  Fig.  10.  Collected  in  Alaska, 
by  J.  J.  Maclean,  in  1882.  Museum  number,  60235. 

FIG.  10.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  9,  showing  the  elaborate  ornamentation.  The  imbri 
cated  effect  upon  the  surface  is  produced  by  sewing  on  little  loops  of  bark 
and  straw,  white  and  brown,  with  blind  stitches  in  such  a  way  as  to  con 
ceal  the  manner  of  attachment.  The  mat-like  bottom  is  ornamented  by 
sewing  on  straws  longitudinally  with  stitches  wide  apart,  so  as  to  show  a 
checker  pattern  of  straw  and  stitching.  This  method  of  ornamenting  the 
bottom  is  often  pursued  over  the  whole  external  surface  of  the  basket. 


Eeport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  VL 


10 


FIG.  9.  Alaskan  Indian  coiled  basket.  FIG.  10.  One  square  inch  oif  Fig.  9. 


PLATE  VII. 

(Mason.    Baaket-work.) 

FIG.  11.  Twined  basket-wallet  of  the  Chilkaht  Indians  (Thlinkit  stock),  band-box 
shape  when  spread  out.  The  bottom  is  very  roughly  made  of  spruce-root 
splints,  warp  and  twine,  the  former  radiating  from  the  center.  The  bound 
ary  of  the  bottom  is  a  single  row  of  twine  fastened  on  externally.  The 
cylindrical  portion  for  a  few  inches  above  the  bottom  is  in  natural  brown 
color,  excepting  two  or  three  vertical  bands  of  embroidery.  The  rest  of  the 
body  is  in  stripes  of  natural  color,  black  and  Indian  red.  The  border  is 
formed  by  turning  under  the  warp  threads  and  cutting  them  off.  The  ge 
ometric  patterns  (different  on  every  wallet)  are  formed  by  embroidering 
upon  the  outer  surface,  half  through  the  fabric,  with  yellow,  light  red 
straws  and  spruce-root  dyed.  This  style  of  basketry  is  followed  by  the 
Haidas  in  the  baskets  made  for  sale.  Collected  at  Sitka,  Alaska,  by  Dr.  J. 
B.  White,  in  1876.  Museum  number,  21560. 


Report  Nat,  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket- work. 


PLATE  VII. 


FIG.  11.  Chilkaht  twined  and  embroidered  basket  wallet. 


PLATE  VII 1. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  12.  Twined  basket  of  spruce  root,  made  by  Haida  Indians.  This  specimen  shows 
better  than  any  of  the  preceding  the  method  of  administration  in  the 
twined  basketry.  The  handle  is  a  twine  of  spruce  root  fastened  on  by 
weaving  in  and  out  on  the  side,  the  lower  end  knotted.  The  fastening  off 
at  the  rim  is  done  by  bending  down  the  warp  threads  externally  and  sew 
ing  them  flat  with  one  row  of  twining.  Collected  by  James  G.  Swan,  in 
Queen  Charlotte  Archipelago,  in  1883.  Museum  number,  88904. 

FIG.  13.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  12  taken  near  the  top,  so  as  to  show  the  close  and 
the  open  weaving.  The  method  of  twine  weaving  is  perfectly  shown  in 
this  figure. 


Report  Kat.  Mas.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  VIII. 


Qs        12 


FIG.  12    Haida  twined  open-work  basket.        FIG.  13.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  12. 


PLATE  IX. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  14.  Rain  hat  of  twined  basketry  in  spruce  root  from  Haida  Indians,  reduced  to 
one-eighth  linear.  This  figure  is  the  upper  view  and  shows  the  method  of 
ornamentation  in  red  and  black  paint.  The  device  in  this  instance  is  the 
epitomized  form  of  a  bird,  the  first  step  from  pictures  toward  graphic  signs. 
Omitting  the  red  cross  on  the  top,  the  beak,  jaws,  and  nostrils  are  shown 
.  above ;  the  eyes  at  the  sides  near  the  top,  and  just  behind  them  the  sym 
bol  for  ears.  The  wings,  feet,  and  tail,  inclosing  a  human  face,  are  shown 
on  the  margin.  The  Haida  as  well  as  other  coast  Indians  from  Cape  Flat 
tery  to  Mount  Saint  Elias  cover  everything  of  use  with  totemic  devices  in 
painting  and  carving.  Collected  in  Queen  Charlotte  Archipelago,  by  J. 
G.  Swan.  Museum  number,  89033. 

FIG.  15.  Showing  the  conical  shape  of  Fig.  14.  This  form  should  be  compared  with 
one  seen  so  frequently  in  Chinese  and  Japanese  hats.  On  the  inside  a 
cylindrical  band  of  spruce  root  is  stitched  on  so  as  to  make  the  hat  fit  the 
wearer's  head.  A  string  passed  under  the  chin  is  frequently  added. 


Report  TSTat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  IX. 


CL 

14 


IS 


FIG.  13.  Haida  twined  basketry  hat,  top  view.          FIG.  15.  Same  hat,  side  view. 


PLATE  X. 

(Mason.    Basket-work. 


FIG.  16.  A  portion  1£  \>>  I  inch,  taken  from  the  rim  of  the  last  two  figures.  It  shows  the 
regular  method  of  twined  weaving,  the  introduction  of  the  skip-stitch  or 
twilled  weaving  into  the  greatest  variety  of  geometric  patterns,  and  the 
ingenious  method  of  fastening  off  by  a  four-ply  braid  showing  only  on  the 
outer  side. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  X. 


FIG.  1(5.  One  and  a  half  square  inches  of  Fig.  14. 


PLATE  XI. 

(Maaon.    Basket-work.) 

4 

FIGS.  17-19.  Showing  the  Haida  method  of  twined  weaving,  almost  identical  with 
that  of  the  Thlinkit  stock  in  style  (Fig  11)."  Fig.  17  exhibits  the 
method  of  mounting  the  work.  Along  the  side  of  the  upright  pole  is 
seen  two  bundles  of  spruce-root  splints  ready  for  use,  one  black,  the 
other  in  natural  color. 

FIG.  18.  The  bottom  of  the  basket,  with  radiating  warp,  twined  weft,  and  an  exter 
nal  twine  on  its  outer  boundary. 

FIG.  19.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  17,  indicating  the  exceedingly  regular  method  of  the 
twining.  On  the  upper  margin  is  seen  the  external  row  of  twining  added 
after  the  fabric  was  finished.  Collected  from  the  Massett  tribe  of  Haidaa, 
Queen  Charlotte  Islands.  Museum  number,  88956. 


Iteport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Masoii.     Basket-work. 


PLATE  XI. 


FIG.  17.  Haida  basket  set  up. 
FIG.  18.  Bottom  of  same. 


17       d 
FIG.  19.  One  square  inch  of  the  side. 


PLATE  XII. 
(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG,  20.  Showing  regularly  woven  cedar-bark  wallet  of  Bilhoolat.  The  bottom  and 
sides  are  all  in  checker  pattern.  By  an  endless  variety  in  real  and  pro 
portional  width  of  warp  and  weft  thread,  and  by  coloring  some  of  the 
threads,  an  infinite  number  of  patterns  is  produced.  p.:'he  fastening  off  is 
done  as  in  Fig.  12.  In  many  cedar-bark  baskets  of  this  region  the  two  sets 
of  threads  run  diagonally,  producing  a  diamond  rather  than  a  checker  pat 
tern.  Again,  much  more  rarely  three  elements  are  involved,  an  open-work 
of  two  sets  running  diagonally,  and  a  horizontal  thread  running  through 
the  open  rhombs,  in  and  out,  as  in  multitudes  of  Japanese  baskets.  Col 
lected  in  British  Columbia,  by  James  G.  Swan. 

FKJ.  21.     One  square  inch  of  Fig.  20,  natural  size. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XII. 


FIG.  20.  Bilhoola  woven  cedar  bast  basket. 
FIG.  21.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  20. 


PLATE  XIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work,' 

FIG.  22.  Openwork  carrying  basket  of  the  bird--,age  or  fish-trap  style  of  weaving 
made  by  the  Clallam  Indians  (Selish  stock).  The  frame-work  is  a  rect 
angle  of  large  twigs  from  the  corners  of  »:  :  depend  four  twigs,  joining 
as  shown  in  the  figure.  To  this  frame-work  are  lashed  smaller  rods  run 
ning  horizontally  and  vertically,  making  a  lattice- work  with  any  desirable 
size  of  meshes.  Finally,  spruce-root  splints  are  coiled  around  the  crossings 
of  these  lattice  rods.  In  this  particular  example  the  coiling  is  not  contin 
uously  around  the  basket,  but  on  each  side  separately  in  boustrophedon, 
but  in  the  pretty  Makah  baskets,  woven  in  this  style,  the  coiled  thread 
continues  around  without  break  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the 
work.  The  handles  for  the  attaehmea^  c.'  the  head-strap  are  loops  of 
spruce-root  cord  set  on  at  the  corners.  Collected  in  Washington  Territory, 
by  J.  G.  Swan.  Museum  number,  23480! 

Fi9.  23.  Showing  the  exact  method  administration  in  this  form  of  basketry.  It 
should  be  closely  studied  with  reference  to  Makah  basketry  and  Congo 
shields  and  baskets. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XIII. 


FIG.  22.  Carrying  basket  of  Clallam  Indians. 

FIG.  23.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  22,  enlarged  to  show  bird-cage  stitch. 


PLATE  XIV. 
(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIGS.  24-26.  A  wonderful  specimen  of  basketry  from  the  Makah  Indians  (Nutkan 
stock).  It  includes  the  three  distinct  types,  the  plain  checker  weav 
ing  of  the  Bilhoolas  (Fig.  26,  bottom),  the  twined  pattern  frequently 
mentioned  in  this  paper,  and,  lastly,  the  bird-cage  pattern  of  the 
Clallams  (Fig.  25).  The  ornamentation  on  this  class  of  baskets,  as  on 
the  commercial  baskets  of  the  Haidas,  consists  of  geometric  patterns 
in  black,  yellow,  drab,  reds,  blues,  &c.,  colors  many  of  which  are  ob 
tained  from  traders.  The  straws  are  dyed  and  the  pattern  is  alike  on 
both  sides.  Collected  at  Cape  Flattery,  by  James  G.  Swan,  in  1876. 
Museum  number,  23346. 


Repot  t  Nat.  Mus.  3884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XIV. 


24 


FIG.  24.  Makah  bird-cage  pattern  in  basketry. 
FIG.  25.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  24,  on  the  side. 
FIG.  26.  One  square  inch  outer  edge  of  bottom. 


PLATE  XV. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FlG.  27.  Twilled  splint  basket  of  the  Clallams  (Selish  stock),  made  of  white  birch 
wood.  The  bottom  was  woven  first  and  all  of  the  bottom  splints  be 
came  the  warp  of  the  sides,  which  are  built  up  by  weaving  weft  splints. 
The  twilled  effect  is  produced  by  passing  each  weft  splint  always  over 
two  warp  splints,  and  by  carrying  two  weft  splints  around  at  the  same 
time,  making  them  overlap  alternate  warp  splints.  The  fastening  off  is 
done  by  bending  down  the  warp  straws  and  whipping  them  in  place  with 
splint.  The  scallop  on  the  edge  is  formed  by  looping  the  middle  of 
two  splints  under  the  rim,  twisting  both  pairs  of  ends  into  a  twine,  pass 
ing  one  twine  through  the  other,  and  then  doubling  down  to  repeat  pro 
cess  for  the  next  scallop.  Collected  in  Washington  Territory,  by  James 
G.  Swan.  Museum  number,  23509. 

FIG.  28.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  27,  showing  the  method  of  administering  the  splints 
in  plain  twill.  Innumerable  pleasing  effects  are  produced  by  varying  the 
color,  number,  width,  and  direction  of  the  splints  overlapping  in  the  wear- 
ing. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason     Basket-work. 


PLATE  XV. 


?7 


FIG.  27.  Clallam  twilled  basket. 

FIG.  28.  One  square  inch  on  the  side  of 


PLATE  XVI. 

( Mason .    Basket-work . ) 

FIG.  29.  Bottle  covered  with  basket-work  by  Makah  Indians.  The  groundwork  is  of 
bast  and  the  ornamentation  of  red,  yellow,  and  black  straws  sewed  on  singly 
after  the  Makah  fashion.  Great  numbers  of  these  covered  bottles  and 
other  fanciful  forms  are  prepared  for  sale  by  the  Makahs  as  well  as  by  the 
Haidas,  whose  work  is  similar  in  external  appearance,  but  not  in  the 
method  of  weaving.  Collected  at  Neeah  Bay,  Washington  Territory,  by 
James  G.  Swan,  in  1884.  Museum  number,  73755. 

FIG.  30.  Bottom  of  Fig.  29,  showing  the  radiated  warp  and  the  alternation  of  twined 
weft  with  the  ordinary  in-and-out  weaving. 

FIG.  31.  Portion  of  the  side  of  the  bottle,  showing  the  lattice  arrangement  of  the 
warp,  and  the  twined  weft,  producing  irregular  hexagons.  This  method 
of  producing  polygonal  meshes,  excepting  the  twined  weft,  is  pursued  in 
great  variety  and  with  excellent  effect  by  the  Japanese  and  other  Oriental 
peoples. 


Heport  Nat.  Hus.  1884.— Mason,     iiasket-work. 


PLATE  XVI. 


FIG.  29.  Makah  bottle  covered  with  basketry, 

FIG.  30.  Bottom  of  bottle,  natural  size. 

Fie.  31.  One  square  inch  from  side  of  Fig.  29. 


PLATE  XVII. 
(Mason.     Basket-work.) 

FIG.  32.  Coiled  basket,  made  of  single  osier  coil,  sewed  down  with  spruce  root  or  wil 
low  fiber,  ascribed  to  Claliams  by  commerce  in  the  text,  but  found  on 
examination  to  have  come  from  Sitka.      The  sewing  is  very  regularly 
done,  but  the  stitches  split  one  another,  as  in  Eskimo  coiled  sewing.     Co' 
lected  at  Sitka,  by  J.  G.  Swan,  in  1876.     Museum  number,  23512. 

FIG.  33.  One  square  inch  of  32,  showing  the  method  of  adding  ornamental  straws, 
caught  by  every  third  stitch.  The  appearance  of  the  yellow  dots  on  the 
dark-brown  ground  is  very  pleasing  in  the  original. 


.Report  .Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XVII. 


FIG.  32.  Alaskan  coiled  basket. 


FIG.  33.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  32. 


PLATE  XVIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

Fio.  34.  Twined  or  plaited  flexible  basket  of  the  Klamath  Indians,  made  of  rushes  and 
straw.  The  management  of  the  material  is  precisely  as  in  the  Eskimo 
wallets  (Fig.  3).  The  three  elevated  bands  upon  the  outside  are  formed  by 
rows  of  twine  set  on  externally.  The  border  in  this  case  is  formed  by 
binding  down  the  warp  straws  and  sewing  them  fast  with  trader's  twine. 
By  twining  a  dark  and  a  light  colored  straw,  two  dark  or  two  light  straws, 
and  by  varying  the  number  of  these  monochrome  or  dichrome  twines,  very 
pleasing  effects  in  endless  variety  are  produced.  Collected  at  Klamath 
Agency,  in  1876,  by  L.  S.  Dyar.  Museum  number,  24124. 

Fio.  35.  One  square  inch  of  34,  showing  the  appearance  of  the  body  weaving  above 
and  of  the  ornamental  twining  below. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XVIII. 


FIG.  34.  Klamath  twined  basket.  FIG.  35.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  34. 


PLATE  XIX. 

(Mason.     Basket-work.) 

FIG.  36.  Coiled  and  whipped  baskets  from  Hoochnom  tribe,  made  of  some  species  of 
pliable  root.  The  bottom  is  started  upon  a  small  flat  Turk's-head  knot  of 
splint  f  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  continued  in  a  plane  outward  4  inches 
in  diameter  before  any  ornament  is  attempted.  The  coils  are  ^  inch  in 
cross-section  and  there  are  twenty  stitches  to  the  inch.  There  are  three 
pairs  of  the  ornament  on  the  exterior  all  alike.  The  harmony  of  geomet 
ric  design  produced  by  inverting  the  triangles  on  the  alternate  sides  is 
much  more  expressive  in  the  specimen  where  the  brown-black  ornament  is 
in  contrast  with  the  dark  wood  color  of  the  body.  This  specimen  should 
be  compared  with  Fig.  56.  The  patterns  and  designs  in  this  ware  are  of 
great  variety  and  beauty,  and  the  use  of  beads  and  feathers  much  improves 
their  appearance.  Collected  at  Eel  River,  California,  by  Stephen  Powers, 
in  1876.  Museum  number,  21371. 

FIG.  37.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  36,  showing  method  of  coiling  with  various  colored 
straws. 


Keport  .Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XIX. 


FIG.  36.  Hoochnom  coiled  basket.  FIG.  37.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  36. 


PLATE  XX. 
(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FiG.  38.  Twined  wallet  of  Nez  Perce"  Indians  (Sahaptin  stock)  made  of  the  bast  of 
Indian  hemp  (Apocynum  cannabinum).  A  sufficient  nnmher  of  warp  strands 
were  stretched  and  joined  together  in  their  middle  by  one  row  of  twining. 
The  ends  of  these  warp  strands  were  then  brought  together,  and  the  weaver, 
by  continuing  the  twine  around  and  around,  built  up  her  bag.  The  orna 
mentation  is  the  same  old  story  of  straw  colored,  brown,  blue,  and  green 
strings  of  the  Indian  hemp  twined  externally.  Collected  in  Idaho,  by  Rev. 
George  Ainslee.  Museum  textile  number,  8025. 

FiG.  39.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  38,  showing  the  body  twining  and  the  twined  orna 
ment  above. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XX. 


FIG.  38.  Nez  Perce*  twined  wallet.  FIG.  39.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  38. 


PLATE  XXI. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  40.  Twined  basket  hat  of  the  Utes,  used  by  women  either  as  a  hat  or  as  a  basket. 
The  California  women  make  hats  of  a  similar  pattern,  but  much  finer. 
The  warp  twigs  converge  at  the  bottom  and  additional  ones  are  added  as 
the  texture  widens.  The  weft  splints  are  carried  around  in  pairs  and 
twined  so  as  to  inclose  a  pair  of  vertical  twigs,  producing  a  twilled  effect 
something  like  that  of  the  softer  ware  of  the  Haidas  and  Clallams.  The 
border  of  this  twined  basket  is  very  ingeniously  made.  First,  the  project 
ing  warp  sticks  were  bent  down  and  whipped  with  splints  to  form  the  body 
of  the  rim.  Then  with  two  splints  the  weaver  sewed  along  <he  upper  mar 
gin,  catching  these  splints  alternately  into  the  warp  straws  below,  giving 
the  work  the  appearance  of  a  button-hole  stitch.  The  ornamentation  is 
produced  by  means  of  dyed  twigs  either  alone  or  combined  with  those  of 
natural  color.  The  texture  of  this  ware  is  always  coarse  and  rigid  owing 
to  the  lack  of  good  material  in  this  arid  region.  Collected  in  Southern 
Utah,  by  J.  W.  Powell.  Museum  number,  11838. 

FIG.  41.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  40,  showing  method  of  weaving  and  administering 
the  colored  splints. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXT. 


40 


FIG.  40.  Ute  twined  hat-bowl. 


FIG.  41.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  40. 


PLATE  XXII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

PIG.  42.  Twined  roasting-tray  of  the  Pai  Utes.  The  warp  is  a  lot  of  osiers  spread  out 
like  a  fan.  The  weaving  commenced  at  the  bottom  by  short  curves  and 
progressed  by  ever- widening  curves  to  the  outer  margin.  The  rim  is  made 
by  a  double  row  of  the  coiled  and  whipped  work.  The  whole  surface  is 
very  rough,  as  in  all  Ute  work,  by  reason  of  not  twisting  the  strands  when 
making  the  twine.  There  is  little  ornamentation  on  this  class  of  objects. 
Collected  in  Southern  Utah,  in  1874,  by  Maj.  J.  W.  Powell.  Museum  num 
ber,  11857. 

PIG.  43.  Twined  gathering  and  carrying  basket  of  the  Pai  Utes.  Woven  precisely  as 
the  hats  (Fig.  40)  and  the  roasting-trays  (Fig.  42).  The  splints  are  very  fine, 
but  their  refractory  nature  makes  all  this  ware  coarse.  Ornamentation  is 
produced  by  external  twining  and  by  geometric  patterns  in  dyed  splints. 
Collected  in  Southern  Utah,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874.  Museum  number, 
14667. 


Seport  Nat.  Mas.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE 


42 


FIG.  42.  Ute  twined  roasting  tray. 


FIG.  43.  Ute  carrying  basket. 


PLATE  XXIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  44.  Harvesting  wand  of  Pai  Utes,  made  of  twigs,  split  or  whole,  bound  with 
yucca  fiber.  The  figure  represents  the  coarsest  specimen  in  the  collection. 
In  most  of  this  class  the  longitudinal  twigs  are  held  in  place  by  rows  of 
twine  at  long  intervals.  Collected  in  Southern  Utah,  in  1874,  by  J.  W. 
Powell.  Museum  number,  11823. 


Keport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXIII. 


FIG.  44.  Ute  harvesting  wand. 


PLATE  XXIV. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  4o.  Coiled  and  pitched  bottle  of  the  Pai  Utes,  made  of  osier,  by  coiling  the  fun 
damental  twigs  in  pairs  and  sewing  with  split  osier  always  over  the  two 
in  hand  and  between  the  twigs  of  the  preceding  round.  As  this  bottle  is 
to  be  covered  with  pitch  either  inside  or  out  or  on  both  sides,  the  sew 
ing  is  left  very  open.  By  having  one  twig  large  and  the  other  very  small, 
or  by  having  a  bunch  of  grass  for  the  two  twigs,  a  water-tight  joint  is 
produced  by  the  swelling  of  the  warp  and  weft.  The  bungling  manner  of 
administering  the  stitches  reminds  one  of  the  same  type  of  ware  among 
the  Eskimo.  A  great  variety  of  form  is  given  to  these  pitched  bottles. 
Collected  in  Southern  Utah,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874.  Museum  number, 
11262. 

FIG.  46.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  46,  showing  the  use  of  the  double-twig  coil. 


Heport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXIV. 


to&Z1  wVjffSy**!  MmiiflMyt/*"'Vfij/r 


l  >n  .1  i   \\.,^  ^  •.  f  v  j|  i-  v.  •      '/Ujli.*    ''J.»? 

^^?J^MW^fmlSS^^ 


45. 


FIG.  45.  Ute  coiled  and  pitched  water  bottle. 
FIG.  46.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  45. 


PLATE  XXV. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  47.  Small  coiled  mash  bowl  of  the  Pai  Utes,  made  by  coiling  a  splint  and  thin 
strip  of  yucca,  bast,  or  osier,  and  whipping  them  with  split  osier.  The 
sewing  passes  over  the  two  elements  of  the  coil  in  progress  and  through 
the  upper  element  of  the  coil  below,  looping  always  under  the  subjacent 
stitches.  Ornamentation  produced  by  working  into  the  fabric  triangles 
with  strips  of  martynia  or  dyed  splints.  The  work  is  very  regular  and 
the  texture  water-tight,  resembling  the  work  of  the  Apaches  and  Califor 
nia  Indians.  The  fastening  off  on  the  margin  is  very  prettily  done  by 
whipping  diagonally  with  two  or  three  threads  crossing  one  another. 
Collected  in  Southern  Utah,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874.  Museum  number, 
14720. 

FIG.  48.  Coiled  dish  of  Pai  Utes.  The  work  is  founded  upon  a  wooden  plug  in  the 
center  and  coiled  by  means  of  an  osier  and  a  strip  of  fiber.  Depth,  2^ 
inches.  The  work  is  neatly  done  and  the  ornamentation  resembles  that 
of  Fig.  47.  Collected  in  Southern  Utah,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874.  Mu 
seum  number,  14719. 


Report  Nat,  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXV. 


48 


FIG.  47.  Ute  coiled  mush  bowl. 


FIG.  48.  Ute  coiled  mush  bowl. 


PLATE  XXVI. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  49.  Water-tight  basket  bottle  of  the  Apaches.  The  coiling  consists  of  the  rigid 
osier  and  soft  fiber  combination,  before  mentioned,  the  latter  acting  as 
chinking  or  calking  of  the  openings.  This  ware  differs  essentially  from 
that  of  the  Utes  in  the  glossy  even  stitches,  the  care  taken  in  passing  them 
uniformly  under  the  elements  of  the  preceding  coil,  and  the  more  elabo 
rate  shapes  and  ornamentation.  The  lines  dropped  from  the  bottom  of  the 
chevron  at  the  bottom  meet  in  a  black  spot  at  the  center.  The  upper 
chevron  and  the  rings  of  the  neck  are  in  black,  red,  and  yellow  splints, 
alternately.  Collected  in  Arizona,  by  Dr.  J.  B.  White,  U.  S.  A.,  in  1875. 
Museum  number,  21494. 


Keport  Xat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXVL 


FIG.  49.  Apache  coiled  basket  bottle. 


PLATE  XXVII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  50.  Coiled  basket  bowl  of  the  Coahuila  Apaches.  The  coil  is  a  bundle  of  yucca 
or  other  fiber,  and  the  sewing  is  done  with  splints  of  different  natural 
color,  resembling  reed  cane,  and  with  others  dyed  a  beautiful  chestnut 
and  black.  The  lovely  cloudy  effects  produced  by  the  ingenious  use  of 
splints  of  different  natural  colors  resemble  those  on  the  Moqui  sacred 
bread  trays.  The  fastening  off  is  simple  coil  sewing.  The  ornamentation 
is  a  series  of  crosses  arranged  vertically,  and  four  series  of  rhomboids 
inclosing  triangles.  Collected  in  Southern  California,  by  Dr.  Edward 
Palmer.  Museum  number,  21787. 

FIG.  51.  One  inch  of  Fig.  50,  showing  the  multiple  coil  and  the  method  of  stitching. 


Report  Nat.  Mas.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXVII. 


50 


FIG.  50.  Apache  coiled  basket- bowl. 


FIG.  51.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  50. 


PLATE  XXVIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  52.  Inside  view  of  Fig.  50.  The  black  line  at  the  bottom,  nearly  continuous, 
incloses  a  circle  in  uniform  unvarnished  color.  All  the  body  color  above 
this  line  is  of  a  shining  yellow,  varying  in  shade.  The  disposition  of 
the  ornament  is  better  shown  in  this  figure. 

FIG.  53.  A  similar  Coahuila  Apache  basket,  in  which  the  shading  of  the  body  mate 
rial  is  in  places  very  dark.  The  zigzag  ornament,  effected  by  the  admin 
istration  of  the  triangle,  is  very  attractive.  Depth,  5|  inches ;  width,  16 
inches.  Collected  by  Dr.  Edward  Palmer,  in  Southern  California.  Mu 
seum  number,  21786 


Report  Xat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXVIII. 


FIG.  52.  Inside  view  of  Fig  50.  FIG.  53.  Coahuila  Apache  basket-bowf. 


PLATE  XXIX. 

(Maaon.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  54.  Coiled  osier  basket  bowl  of  the  Apaches,  inside  view,  made  upon  a  single 
twig.  The  apparently  unsystematic  ornament  is  indeed  very  regular. 
Four  lines  of  black  sewing  of  different  lengths  proceed  from  a  black  ring 
of  the  center.  From  the  ends  of  all  these  lines  sewing  is  carried  to  the 
left  in  regular  curves.  Then  the  four  radiating  lines  are  repeated,  and  the 
curved  lines,  until  the  border  is  reached.  Depth,  4  inches.  Collected  in 
Arizona,  by  Dr.  J.  B.  White.  Museum  number,  21493. 

FIG.  55.  Coiled  osier  basket  bowl  of  the  Garotero  Apaches,  inside  view.  In  every  re 
spect  this  resembles  theforegoing.  The  inclosed  triangles  alternating  with 
urn  patterns  constitute  the  ornamentation.  Depth,  3^  inches.  Collected 
on  Gila  River,  by  Rev.  H.  W.  Read.  Museum  number,  4428. 


Report  Nat.  Mas.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXIX. 


55 


FIG.  54.  Apache  coiled  basket-bowl.  FIG.  55.  Garotero  coiled  basket-bowl. 


PLATE  XXX. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  56.  Coiled  basket  bowl,  made  by  Yokuts  Indians,  and  here  introduced  for  com 
parison  with  Apache  work.  This  is  by  far  the  most  elaborate  piece  of 
basketry  in  the  National  Museum.  The  bottom  is  plain  and  flat,  bounded 
by  a  black  line.  The  body  color  is  that  of  pine  root  long  exposed ;  the 
ornaments  are  in  black,  straw  color,  and  brown.  To  understand  this 
complex  figure  we  must  begin  at  the  bottom,  where  5  barred  parallelo 
grams  surround  the  black  ring,  with  center  of  brown,  and  generally  four 
smaller  bars  of  white  and  black  alternating.  By  a  series  of  steps  or  gra- 
dines  this  rectangular  ornament  is  carried  up  to  the  dark  line  just  below 
the  rim.  The  spaces  in  the  body  color,  at  first  plain,  are  occupied  after 
wards  by  open  crosses,  and  finally  by  human  figures.  These  human  fig 
ures  are  excellent  illustrations  of  the  constraining  and  restraining  power 
of  material  and  environment  in  human  achievement.  There  are  8  coils 
and  18  stitches  to  the  inch.  Figure,  a  truncated  cone ;  width,  16$  inches ; 
depth,  7|  inches.  Collected  in  California,  by  Stephen  Powers,  in  1875. 


Keport  Xat.  Mus.  1864.— Mason.     Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXX. 


FIG.  56.  Yokut  Indian  coiled  basket-bowl. 


PLATE  XXXI. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  57.  Coiled  basket  bowl  of  the  Navajos,  with  single  osier  in  the  coil.  Body  color 
natural  hue  of  the  wood ;  ornaments  in  mahogany-brown,  and  black. 
The  bowl  is  divided  four  quadrants,  each  separated  by  a  black  border 
and  having  a  cross  in  the  center.  The  border  is  very  interesting,  resem 
bling  the  braiding  on  a  whip.  It  is  made  by  sewing  with  a  single  splint  as 
follows :  The  splint  is  passed  under  the  sewing  of  the  last  coil  and  then 
drawn  over  it  and  backward.  It  is  then  passed  under  again,  upward  and 
forward,  just  in  advance  of  the  starting  point.  Thus,  by  sewing  forward 
and  backward,  as  one  coils  a  kite  string,  a  braided  effect  is  produced  by  a 
single  splint  thread.  Width,  launches ;  depth,  4|  inches.  Collected  in 
New  Mexico,  in  1873,  by  Governor  Arny.  Museum  number,  16510. 


Report  Nat.  Mua.  1884.— Masou.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXI. 


FIG.  57.  Navajo  coiled  basket-bowl. 


PLATE  XXXII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  58.  Coiled  basket  bowl  of  the  Pimas,  made  up  on  a  foundation  of  yucca,  the  sew 
ing  done  with  splints  of  willow  or  pine.  The  rude  character  of  the  orna 
ment  is  worthy  of  notice.  Depth,  4  inches.  Collected  by  Dr.  Edward 
Palmer,  in  Arizona.  Museum  number,  5548. 

FIG.  59.  Coiled  basket  bowl  of  the  Pimas,  similar  in  structure  to  58.  The  grecque 
ornament  is  wrought  in  with  tolerable  symmetry.  The  border  has  the 

*  braided  appearance  before  mentioned,  given  by  forward  and  backward 

sewing  along  the  border  with  a  single  splint.  In  this  instance  the  stitch 
passes  backward  three  stitches  of  the  sewing  each  time.  This  is  truly 
the  most  ingenious  and  effective  work  of  the  kind  yet  seen.  Collected  by 
Mrs.  Georgia  Stout,  Pi  ma  Agency,  Arizona.  Museum  number,  27837. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXII. 


-0 


FIG.  58.  Pimo  coiled  basket-bowl.  FIG.  59.  Pimo  coiled  basket-bowl. 


PLATE  XXXIII. 

(Mason.    Basket- work.) 

FIG.  60.  Coiled  basket  bowl  of  the  i^imos,  •  uilt  on  yucca  fiber  and  sewed  with  rhus 
or  willow.  The  ornamentation  is  in  red  paint  and  splints  dyed  black. 
The  border  is  back  and  forward  sewing  to  imitate  a  braid.  The  method 
of  administration  is  quite  apparent  in  the  specimen.  The  border  stitches 
have  an  excursion  varying  from  2  to  4  of  the  regular  stitches  of  the  last 
coil  at  the  top  of  the  bowl.  Depth,  3  inches.  Collected  in  Arizona,  by 
Dr.  E.  Palmer.  Museum  number,  76038. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXIII. 


FIG.  60.  Pimo  coiled  basket-bowl. 


PLATE  XXXIV. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  61.  Coiled  basket  bowl  of  Pimos.  Made  on  yucca  with  splint  sewing  similar  to 
those  just  described.  The  ornament  is  evidently  the  work  of  a  beginner, 
but  the  pattern  is  both  regular  and  unique,  all  the  parts  being  in  threes 
and  the  two  sides  of  each  pattern  quite  symmetrical.  Border  of  backward 
and  forward  sewing,  quite  uniform  in  appearance,  but  done  regardless  of 
the  number  of  body  stitches  beneath.  Width,  8  inches ;  depth,  2±  inches. 
Collected  in  Arizona,  by  Dr.  Edward  Palmer,  in  1884.  Museum  number, 
76039. 


Report  Xat.  Mtis.  1884. — Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXIV. 


FIG.  61.  Pimo  coiled  basket-bcnvl. 


PLATE  XXXV. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  62.  Coiled  basket  bowl  of  Pimos,  flat-bottomed.  The  ornament  consists  of  four 
similar  patterns,  based  on  four  elongated  right-angled  triangles.  Each  of 
the  other  lines  of  the  pattern  is  as  nearly  parallel  to  one  of  the  sides  of 
this  triangle  as  the  texture  will  permit.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  this 
design  was  studied  out  beforehand.  Width,  12£  inches;  height,  5  inches. 
Collected  in  Arizona,  in  1884,  by  Dr.  E.  Palmer.  Museum  number,  76040. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Masou.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXV. 


FIG.  62.  Pimo  coiled  basket-bowl. 


PLATE  XXXVI. 

(Mason.    Basket- work. ) 

FIG.  63.  Large  basket  bowl  of  Pimos.  The  manui'acture  is  similar  to  that  in  those 
just  mentioned,  but  the  use  of  the  continuous  fret  in  ornamentation  is 
remarkable,  as  exhibiting  the  easy  manner  in  which  the  fret  may  have 
arisen  in  basketry.  The  border  is  a  false  braid  formed  by  a  single  splint 
and  resembles  an  elongated  guilloche.  Width,  18£;  depth,  5^.  Collected 
in  Arizona,  by  Dr.  E.  Palmer,  in  1874.  Museum  number,  76041. 


Keport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXVL 


FIG.  63.  Pirao  coiled  basket-bowl. 


PLATE  XXXVII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FlG.  64.  Small  twined  granary  of  straw,  made  by  Pimos.  Made  of  wheat-straw  in 
a  coil  sewed  with  bands  of  willow-bark.  The  very  noticeable  feature 
abont  this  specimen  is  that  only  in  a  few  cases  do  the  stitches  of  the  coils 
interlock.  Diameter,  20  inches ;  height,  12  inches.  Collected  in  Arizona, 
by  Dr.  E.  Palmer,  in  1884. 

FIG.  65.  One  square  inch  of  64,  showing  the  coiled  straws  and  the  method  of  sewing. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXVII 


FIG.  64.  Pimo  coiled  granary  of  straw  and  bark. 
FIG.  65.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  64. 


PLATE  XXXVIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  66.  Twined  jar-shaped  basket  of  the  Mokis.  Excepting  in  the  rigid  material 
and  the  pottery  form,  we  have  here  all  the  details  of  the  west  coast  bas 
ketry.  At  the  center  of  the  bottom  each  twining  includes  two  warp  twigs ; 
the  next  round  the  same  plan  is  followed,  but  the  stitches  alternate.  This 
for  10  rows ;  on  the  fifth  is  an  exterior  twining  for  ornament.  Then  suc 
ceed  6  rows  of  twining  on  each  twig,  then  4  rows  of  twining  over  two 
twigs,  then  9  rows  of  single  twining  overlaid  by  two  double  rows  of  ex 
ternal  twining.  The  rest  of  the  surface  is  covered  with  twining  over  every 
warp  twig,  onoverlaid  the  upper  portion  and  at  the  bulge  by  external 
twining.  The  fastening  off  is  mere  whipping.  Collected  in  Moki  pueblos 
in  Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1884. 

FIG.  67.  One  inch  of  66,  showing  the  twining  on  single  and  on  double  rods. 


.Report  Xat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.     Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXVIII. 


Tr 

67 


FIG.  66.  Moki  twined  basket-jar.  FIG.  67.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  66. 


PLATE  XXXIX. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  68.  Coiled  sacred  meal  tray  of  the  Mokis.  A  bunch  of  yucca  leaf  stems,  or  of 
grass,  varying  from  £  inch  to  1  inch  in  diameter,  is  sewed  in  a  continuous  coil 
by  means  of  slender  threads  of  yucca  fiber  about  iV^n  incn  in  width,  and 
very  uniform  throughout.  Each  stitch  of  the  progressing  coil  is  caught  into 
a  stitch  of  the  coil  beneath  with  perfect  regularity,  forming  a  dish  looking 
like  a  great  worm  coiled  up.  The  ornamentation  is  in  yellow  and  brown. 
The  first  spots  interiorly  contain  from  4  to  6  stitches.  On  the  next  turn  a 
series  is  arranged  with  relation  to  these.  By  the  simple  management  of 
this  device  hundreds  of  patterns  are  worked  out.  Collected  in  Arizona  by 
J.  W.  Powell. 

FIG.  69.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  68,  showing  the  method  of  administration. 


Report  Xat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XXXIX. 


FIG.  68.  Moki  coiled  tray. 


FIG.  69.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  68. 


PLATE  XL. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  70.  Coiled  sacred  meal  tray  of  the  Mokis.  The  coloring  of  the  interior  exhibits 
the  fine  shading  produced  by  the  skillful  manipulation  of  the  dark  and  the 
light  side  of  the  fiber.  Collected  in  Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell. 


Eeport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XL. 


FIG.  70.  Moki  coiled  tray. 


PLATE  XLI. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  71.  Coiled  basket  of  Upper  Egypt,  made  of  bundles  of  palm-leaf  veins,  sewed 
with  strips  of  palm  leaf.  Introduced  here  for  comparison  with  the  Moki 
work.  Ornamentation  in  red  and  black.  Along  red  or  black  strip  of  leaf 
is  laid  on  the  outside  of  a  coil  and  caught  down  by  alternate  stitches.  The 
varying  of  the  number  of  stitches  caught  over  or  covered  by  these  strips 
produces  a  multitude  of  effects.  These  baskets  are  frequently  pitched  for 
boats  or  Moses'  arks.  Collected  by  Dr.  G.  W.  Samson,  in  Upper  Egj  pt,  1848. 
Museum  number,  74871. 

FIG.  72.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  71,  showing  the  sewing  and  the  strips  of  ornament. 


Heport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XLI. 


72 


FIG.  71.  Nubian  coiled  basket. 


FIG.  7£.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  71. 


PLATE  XLIL 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  73.  Woven  bread-tray  of  the  Mokis,  made  upon  radiating  warp  twigs  by  weaving 
bits  of  colored  twig,  stripped  of  their  bark,  in  and  out,  and  by  fastening  off 
the  ends  alongside  of  the  warp  twigs  inside  the  fabric.  This  type  should 
be  particularly  noticed  as  the  first  example  yet  encountered  of  the  regular 
basket  weaving  so  common  in  the  ware  of  more  civilized  peoples.  Some 
of  the  bits  of  twig  used  are  less  than  an  inch  long,  and  none  of  them  ever 
exceed  a  foot.  The  figure  is  the  same  on  both  sides,  but  each  stitch  and 
design  in  front  is  just  one  space  farther  to  the  right  on  the  back.  Collected 
in  Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874. 

FIG.  74.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  73,  showing  the  regularity  and  disposition  of  the 
weaving. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XLIL 


73 


FIG.  73.  Moki  woven  bread-tray.  FIG.  74.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  73. 


PLATE  XLIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  75.  Woven  bread-tray  of  the  Mokis,  similar  in  workmanship  to  Fig.  73.  The 
fastening  off  is  done  by  whipping  one  or  two  twigs  around  the  edge  by 
means  of  yucca  fiber.  "The  design  is  a  series  of  concentric  rings  in  pretty 
colors,  the  figures  corresponding  exactly  on  the  two  sides.  Collected  in 
Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  1874. 


Keport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Maaon.    Basket-work, 


PLATE  XLIH. 


FIG.  75.  Moki  woven  bread- tray. 


PLATE  XLIV. 

( Mason .    Basket-work. ) 

FiO.  76.  Woven  basket-tray  of  the  Mokis.  This  figure  shows  very  clearly  what  pleas 
ing  designs  may  be  worked  out  by  the  skillful  adjustment  of  simple  forms 
and  color.  In  the  bright  colors  used  for  this  ware  the  Mokis  produce  de 
cidedly  brilliant  effects.  Collected  in  Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XLIV. 


FIG.  76.  Moki  woven  bread-tiay. 


PLATE  XLV. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

Fio  77.  Woven  basket-tray  of  the  Mokis.  In  this  figure  should  be  noticed  the 
method  of  starting  the  weaving.  A  certain  number  of  twigs  are  plaited 
at  the  center  into  a  cross.  These  twigs  are  spread  out  so  as  to  form  the 
radii  of  a  circle,  and  the  little  twigs  are  so  woven  as  to  increase  the 
length  of  the  meslies  going  outward.  Here  and  there  an  additional  warp 
twig  it  introduced  at  points  where  they  are  needed,  but  not  beyond  the 
dark  circle.  The  ornamentation  in  this  case  is  produced  simply  by  the  use 
of  patches,  two  or  three  stitches  of  the  same  color  alternating  with  the 
body  color.  Collected  in  Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874. 


Report  Xat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XLV. 


FIG.  77.  Moki  woven  bread-tray. 


PLATE  XLYI. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FlG.  78.  Woven  basket-tray  of  the  Mokis.  The  especial  attraction  about  this  speci 
men  is  the  genuine  cloud  effects  produced  on  the  surface  by  the  simplest 
means.  This  represents  a  stage  of  art  far  aboye  the  genius  of  savage  cul 
ture.  Collected  in  Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874. 


Report  Xat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XLVT. 


FIG.  78.  Moki  woven  bread-tray. 


PLATE  XL VII. 
(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

Fiii  79.  Woven  basket- tray  of  the  Mokis,  made  as  others  just  described.  The  very 
insecure  method  of  fastening  off  is  shown  on  the  left  rim.  The  pattern  on 
this  specimen  introduces  no  new  elements  or  colors.  The  elaborate  human 
head,  with  brilliant  cape  and  gorgeous  head-dress,  reminds  one  of  Aztec 
inscriptions.  Collected  in  Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  1874. 


Report  !Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XL VII. 


FIG.  79.  Moki  woven  bread- tray. 


PLATE  XLV1II. 

(Mason.    Basket- work.) 

FIG.  80.  Woven  peach-basket  of  the  Zunis.  More  than  the  Moki  trays,  this  specimen 
recalls  the  method  of  manufacture  to  be  seen  in  the  thousands  of  baskets 
employed  in  civilized  drudgery.  Roughness,  asymmetry,  rude  fastening 
off  with  yucca  fiber  are  its  attractions.  Collected  in  New  Mexico,  by  J.  W. 
Powell.  Museum  number,  40291. 


Eeport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  XL VIII. 


FIG.  80.  Znni  \voveu  fruit-basket. 


PLATE  XLIX. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  81.  Jar-shaped  coiled  basket  from  Zufii  Indians.  This. is  a  very  beautiful  specir 
men  of  coiled  ware  for  this  region,  in  shape,  regularity  of  stitch,  and  or 
namentation  in  black.  Upon  the  authority  of  explorers  the  text  is  made 
to  say  that  the  pottery-making  Indians  are  not  good  basket-makers.  This 
specimen  looks  as  though  it  might  have  come  from  California.  Collected 
in  New  Mexico  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874. 

FlG.  82.  One  square  inch  of  81,  showing  the  use  of  the  strip  of  fiber  for  chinking, 
and  the  alternation  of  white  and  black  stitches. 


Keport^at.  Mus.  Ib&J. — Mason.    liasKeMvork. 


PLATE  XLIX. 


FIG.  81.  Zuni  coiled  basket-jar.  FIG.  82.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  81. 


PLATE  L. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  83.  Coiled  basket-tray  from  Zufii.  The  texture  is  exceedingly  open,  owing  to 
the  use  of  the  single  rod  in  the  coil  with  coarse  chinking.  Collected  in 
New  Mexico,  by  J.  W.  Powell,  in  1874. 

FIG.  84.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  83,  showing  the  warp  rods  and  the  method  of  sewing. 
This  stitch  is  best  employed  in  the  exquisite  rattan  baskets  of  Si  am. 


•Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  L. 


83 


FIG.  83.  Zuni  coiled  food-  tray.  FIG.  84.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  83. 


PLATE  LI. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 


FIG.  85.  The  first  step  in  ordinary  basket-weaving,  showing  how  the  bottom  is  set  up 

in  split  cane  or  splints  of  tough  wood. 
FIG.  86.  The  second  step  in  basket-weaving,  showing  how  the  bottom  splints  are 

turned  up  to  form  the  sides. 


Heport  Nat.  Mua  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LI. 


FIG.  85.  Bottom  of  plain,  woven  basket. 

PIG.  86.  Method  of  building  the  sides  of  a  basket. 


PLATE  LI1. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

Fios,  87, 88.  Showing  the  method  of  completing  the  weaving  on  the  sides  of  an  ordi 
nary  splint  basket,  and  preparing  to  lay  on  the  rim. 


Keport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LIL 


1 


PLATE  LIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  69.  Twilled  woven  basket,  covered  with  diaper  pattern  below,  made  from  cane, 
by  Cherokee  Indians.  Similar  ware  is  produced  by  all  our  southern  In 
dians.  The  diaper  pattern  is  produced  by  overlapping  two  or  more  warj> 
sticks  with  each  stitch.  Collected  in  North  Carolina,  by  Df.  Edward 
Palmer,  in  1880. 


Report  Nat.  Mns.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LIIL 


FIG.  89   Cherokee  twilled  basket  of  cane. 


PLATE  LIV. 

(Mason.    Basket- work.) 

FIG.  90.  Twilled  palin-leaf  basket- wallet  of  Fiji  Islanders,  woven  double,  the  inside 
of  plain  checker  pattern  of  broad  pieces.  The  exterior  covered  with  every 
conceivable  manipulation  of  black  and  white  strips  of  palm-leaf,  varying 
in  width.  Introduced  here  for  comparison  with  twilled  weaving  on  our 
continent.  Collected  in  Fiji,  by  Captain  Wilkes,  in  1840. 


Ueport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LIV. 


PLATE  LV. 

(Maaon.    Basket-work.) 

PIG.  91.  One  square  inch  of  90  enlarged  to  show  the  method  of  cross-stitching  in  Fiji 
basketry,  combined  with  varying  width  of  strips. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LV. 


FIG.  91.  One  square  inch  of  Fig.  90. 


PLATE  LVI, 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  92.  Woven  fish-basket  of  Fiji  Islanders.  This  specimen  is  also  woven  double, 
the  inside  being  very  coarse.  Collected  in  Fiji  Islands,  in  1840,  by  Captain 
Wilkes. 


Report  Nat.  Mua.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LVL 


FIG.  92.  Fijian  fish-basket  of  palm  leaf. 


PLATE  LVII. 
(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  93.  One  inch  of  the  bottom  of  92  enlarged  to  show  the  simple  twilled  weaving. 

I-'IG.  94.  Plain  weaving  on  the  sides  of  Fig.  92. 

FIG.  95.  Coarse  weaving  of  the  inside  of  Fiji  basketry. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Maaon.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LVII. 


FIG.  93.  One  square  inch  of  bottom,  Fig.  92. 
FIG.  94.  One  square  inch  of  outside,  Fig.  92. 
FIG.  95.  One  square  inch  of  inside,  Fig.  92. 


PLATE  LVIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  96.  Woven  basket  of  Micmac  Indians  made  of  white  birch.  Thousands  of  these 
pretty  baskets  wrought  into  hundreds  of  shapes  are  sold  in  the  towns  and 
villages  of  the  Northern  States  by  the  Indian  basket-maker.  A  curious 
modification  of  this  method  of  weaving  comes  from  Tripoli,  in  which  the 
horizontal  part  is  rigid  and  the  weft  straws  run  up  and  down.  It  is  as  if 
we  revolved  the  Micmac  pattern  90  degrees.  Collected  by  Mr,  G.  Brown 
Goode,  in  Nova  Scotia. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LVIH. 


FIG.  96.  Micmac  woven  birch  basket* 


PLATE  LIX. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIGS.  97, 98.  Showing  the  method  of  introducing  the  curled  ornament  in  Algonquin 
and  Iroquois  basketry. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work 


PLATE  LIX. 


FIGS.  97,  98.  Method  of  ornamenting  birch  baskets. 


PLATE  LX. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 
FIG.  99,  Ordinary  form  of  pricker  used  by  Eskimo.    Collected  at  Po  nt  Clarence 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LX. 


FIG.  99.  Eskimo  ivory  pricker  from  Point  Clarence. 


PLATE  LXI. 
(Mason.    Basket-work.) 
FIGS.  100-102    Bone,  ivory,  and  metal-pointed  prickers  from  Lower  Yukon  district. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LXI. 


=  It 


101 


102 


"  . : 


FIG.  100.  Eskimo  pricker  of  bone.        FIG.  102.  Eskimo  pricker  with  metal  point. 
FIG.  101.  Eskimo  pricker  of  antler. 


PLATE  LXII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  103.  Eskimo  pricker  with  wooden  handle  and  iron  point  lashed  with  rawhide 
FIG.  104.  Eskimo  awl,  with  metal  point  in  ivory  handle. 

FIG.  105.  Eskimo  drill-shaft  of  wood  with  metal  point  and  band  of  rawhide.    Drills 
of  this  class  also  have  beautiful  jade  points. 


EeportNat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.   -Basket-work. 


PLATE  LXII. 


! 


FIG.  103.  Eskimo  iron-pointed  pricker. 
FIG.  104.  Eskimo  iron-pointed  awl. 


FIG.  105.  Eskimo  iron-pointed  drill. 


PLATE  LXIII. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 
FIGS.  106, 107.  Bone  prickers  used  by  Moquis.     Collected  in  Arizona,  by  J.  W.  Powell. 


Keport  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LXIII. 


f'i 


FIGS.  106,  107.  Moqni  bone  prickers. 


PLATE  LXIV. 

(Mason.    Basket-work.) 

FIG.  108.  Bone  pricker  from  Coahuila,  Mex.    Collected  by  E.  Palmer. 
FIG.  109.  Iron-pointed  pricker  of  Cherokees.     Collected  in  North  Carolina,  by  E. 
Palmer. 


Report  Nat.  Mus.  1884.— Mason.    Basket-work. 


PLATE  LXIV. 


FIG.  108.  Coahiiita  bone  pricker.  FIG.  109.  Cherokee  pricker  ID  antler. 


